ADHS Justice Reinvestment Grant Applications Open
In November 2020, Arizona voters approved the Smart and Safe Arizona Act legalizing retail marijuana and establishing a Justice Reinvestment Fund for grants to qualified nonprofit organizations that provide justice reinvestment programs in Arizona. Last week ADHS opened up the application period for the first set of Justice Reinvestment Grants. The RFGA will remain open and accept applications for the next 6 weeks. Pre-application conferences are being held over the next couple of weeks
Public Comment Period Open for AHCCCS Adult Dental Services
AHCCCS is accepting public comments through March 31 about their dental policies. You can submit a comment to AHCCCS to encourage the expansion of preventive dental benefits to adults over 21 years of age on the site. Note: HB2338 which would add a preventive adult dental benefit to AHCCCS is being heard in the Senate Health Committee this Tuesday. Make sure you’ve signed up in support of that bill if you haven’t done so yet.
AzPHA Objects to the Pacific Legal Foundation’s Petition to Throw Out Arizona’s Cage Free Environment Law for Egg Laying Hens
A few years ago, the Arizona Department of Agriculture brokered a compromise among stakeholders interested in protecting the safety of Arizona’s supply of eggs, those interested in more humane treatment of egg-laying hens, and egg producers when they adopted rules phasing out caged environments for egg-laying hens. Arizona joined California, Oregon, Washington, Michigan, Colorado, Nevada, Utah, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island in outlawing the use of cages for egg laying chickens.
Planning for the Renewal of ADHS’ Title V Maternal & Child Health Block Grant Underway
Comments on Needs Assessment Open Through March 31 The federal Title V Maternal and Child Health Block Grant Program is a partnership between the federal government and states which supports the health and well-being of all mothers, children, and families. One of the beauties of the MCH block grant is states have wide guardrails on how they can spend the funds. In Arizona we’ve traditionally developed a plan every 5
Biden Issues an Executive Order to Reduce Gun Violence & Make Communities Safer
What Will it Do? Last Tuesday the President issued an executive order called Reducing Gun Violence and Making Our Communities Safer. At a high level, the Order basically instructs federal agencies to use their existing authority to implement measures to reduce gun violence. Much of the executive order focuses on coordinating implementation of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. The Act: Supports state ‘crisis intervention orders’ AKA Red Flag Laws (which Arizona doesn’t have);
Legislative Update
This week’s meeting of the Senate Health Committee is a busy and important one. There are 5 good bills up for consideration including: HB2053 – nurse home visitations; HB2168 – good samaritan medical assistance; HB2194 – drug overdose teams; HB2338 – AHCCCS preventive dental; and HB2753 – graduate medical education at communtity health centers. The House Health Committee has a pretty meager agenda & other committees aren’t acting on our priority bills this week. Here’s our updated Bill Tracker Spreadsheet and Evergreen Session