Maricopa County Activates Heat Relief Network
May 1st launched the 2026 Heat Relief Network season for Maricopa County. The heat relief season runs from May 1-September 30th, with countless organizations opening their doors to anyone in need of a place to cool off. This year, more than 200 sites have already begun welcoming folks, including offering water. Some sites welcome pets, while others provide respite 24 hours. This year, Maricopa County Department of Public Health is making two notable
AHCCCS Preps for Work Requirements: Looking for Reinforcements to Help with Member Communications
AHCCCS has another new solicitation out that’s good. It’s focused on finding a vendor (already on state contract) to help them communicate with members about the upcoming work and community engagement requirements under H.R. 1, which are set to kick in January 1, 2027. Rather than trying to do the comms themselves AHCCCS recognizes they’ll need some help to get it right, which is a good thing. You can dig
Secure Behavioral Health Facilities Are Finally Back on the Table – with an AHCCCS RFP
Arizona is facing, and has faced for a long time, a major gap in our mental health care system: the lack of secure residential treatment settings (ABHRFs) for folks with serious mental illness resistant to treatment. These are sometimes folks with conditions like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder who, because of their illness, won’t engage in voluntary treatment. Their families are left watching loved one’s cycle through emergency rooms, jails, and
Phoenix Prohibiting Humanitarian Aid in City Parks
Last week the Phoenix City Council did exactly what we expected they’d do. Rubber stamp Parks Department director Cynthia Aguilar and City Manager Ed Zuercher’s proposal to dramatically restrict (essentially eliminate) humanitarian aid in city parks. By a 6-3 vote, the Council approved the ordinance despite hours of testimony from healthcare providers, outreach workers, harm reduction advocates, and community members warning that the policy will make life even harder for
Suspended Animation at the Capitol
We’re still in the suspended animation at the state capitol. The House and Senate passed their (party line) budget last week. Hobbs has already vetoed it. The governor argued the proposal didn’t include executive branch priorities, cut too much from safety net services, and didn’t fund things needed to implement the red tape provisions in HR1. Then the House took a one-month paid vacation until June 1. As far as
Remembering ADHS Director Jim Schamadan
Dr. James (Jim) Schamadan passed away on April 19 at the age of 98. He was the ADHS director twice. He was a physician, an engineer, and a healthcare executive who helped build Scottsdale Memorial Healthcare and served as its CEO through the mid-1990s. From there, he was appointed ADHS Director. He served twice including a later stint as an interim director in the late 1990s. The exact dates are