Opioid Special Session this Week
The Governor called a Special Session of the Legislature this week to facilitate the passage of a series of statutory changes to address Arizona’s Opioid epidemic. The Bill (called HB 2001 in the House) tackles a wide range of issues as identified in ADHS’ September 5 report. Some of the interventions include:
- Limiting the first-fill of opioid prescriptions to 5 days for opioid naïve patients and limiting dosage levels to align with federal prescribing guidelines (exemptions are included for cancer, trauma or burn patients, hospice or end-of-life patients, and those receiving medication assisted treatment for substance use disorder);
- Expanding access to Naloxone for law enforcement or corrections officers;
- Increasing oversight mechanisms, and enacting criminal penalties for manufacturers who defraud the public about their products;
- Enhancing continuing medical education for all professions that prescribe or dispense opioids;
- Enacting a Good Samaritan law to allow people to call 911 for a potential opioid overdose;
- Requiring e-prescribing;
- Requiring all pharmacists to check the Controlled Substances Prescription Monitoring Program prior to dispensing an opioid or benzodiazepine; and
- Identifying gaps in and improving access to treatment, including for uninsured or underinsured Arizonans, with a new $10 million investment.
The Bill is moving rapidly and received a pass recommendation from the House Health Committee on Tuesday. The expedited process and the Stakeholder meetings that were included during its development will likely result in quick passage and approval. AzPHA has signed up in support of the measure.
AHCCCS Proposes Ending “Prior Quarter Coverage”
Under Medicaid law, states are required to provide coverage beginning 3 months prior to the person’s application if the person would have been eligible during those months. Medicaid covers unpaid medical bills incurred during that time.
The retroactive coverage ensures that enrollees aren’t hit with medical bills for the 3 months before they applied for Medicaid if their income was so low that they would have been Medicaid eligible. It also provides an incentive for doctors and hospitals to treat uninsured Medicaid eligible people because they’ll be paid for the services once the person is enrolled.
AHCCCS is proposing a Prior Quarter Coverage Waiver Amendment asking CMS’ permission to stop covering “prior quarter” coverage. The public has until February 25 to comment on the proposal. Written comments can be sent to publicinput@azahcccs.gov.
You may want to think about framing your comments by urging CMS to require a 6 month or 1-year limit on the waiver and make final approval conditional upon an evaluation of the impact on hospitals’ and community providers’ uncompensated care burden as well as the effect on consumer medical debt and gaps in coverage prior to enrollment.
Federal Budget Deal Includes CHIP
The (temporary) federal budget bill that was passed and signed this week included a 6-year extension of the federal Children’s Health Insurance Program (called KidsCare in AZ).
Importantly, the federal contribution rate of 100% will stay in place until October 1, 2019. When AZ approved the KidsCare program a couple of years ago- it was contingent on the fed’s continuing to pay 100% of the costs for the program. Under the current statute, if the federal contribution drops the program would be automatically frozen.
HB 2127 would remove the trigger that automatically freezes the KidsCare program if FMAP (the federal contribution) drops below 100% and allow the state to freeze it if costs are more than the state or federal allotment. We’ve signed up in support of this bill because it provides a pathway to keep Kids Care if the federal government drops its contribution level. This will be heard in House Health on Thursday.
AZ Legislative Update
Last week I covered the Bills relating to public health that had been proposed as of last week. Here are the new bills from this week:
SB 1245 Snap Benefit Match
This bill would appropriate $400K to ADES to develop the infrastructure for a produce incentive program within the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for members to buy Arizona-grown fruits and vegetables. It would also provide matching funds to SNAP-authorized vendors as an incentive to participate in the fruits and vegetable program. We’ve signed up in support of this Bill. It hasn’t been scheduled for a committee hearing yet.
SB 1250 Food Producers, Ordinances
This bill would make it clear that cities, towns and counties can’t restrict food producers (including community gardens) from producing food products with some exceptions and including inspection authority.
HB 2208 Photo Enforcement
This bill would prohibit cities and other jurisdictions from having photo enforcement for red light running and speeding. While nobody likes getting a ticket in the mail, the data suggest that photo enforcement saves lives and prevents injuries (especially photo red lights). We’ve signed up in opposition to the bill. SB 2208 will be heard in the House Judiciary and Public Safety Committee on Wednesday afternoon.
Bills Being Heard in Committee this Week
HB 2324 Community Health Workers; Voluntary Certification
This Bill (which is a priority for AzPHA) is being heard in the House Health Committee on Thursday, January 25. It would charge the ADHS with developing a voluntary certification program for community health workers. The Department rulemaking would include certification standards including qualifications, core competencies, and continuing education requirements. We’ve signed up in support of this bill.
HB 2084 Indoor tanning; minors; restricted use
This Bill will be heard in the House Health Committee on Thursday. Tanning facility operators would be prohibited from allowing a person under 18 years of age to use a “tanning device”. Tanning facilities are prohibited from advertising or distributing promotional materials that claim that using a tanning device is free from risk or will result in medical or health benefits. We’ve signed on in support of this.
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Yuma County Gets Grant to Combat Childhood Poverty
The National Association of Counties has selected Yuma County to be part of the Rural Impact County Challenge: National Effort to Combat Childhood Poverty. The program is a partnership between the National Association of Counties and the Robert Woods Johnson Foundation’s County Health Ranking and Roadmaps Program.
Yuma County is part of a cohort of 11 communities selected nationwide to participate. A link to the program can be found here: http://www.naco.org/resources/programs-and-services/rural-impact-county-challenge-national-effort-combat-rural-child.
