HB2966

THE CONTEXT: The Arizona Constitution prohibits substantive law from being included in the general appropriations, capital outlay appropriations and supplemental appropriations bills. However, it is often necessary to make statutory and session law changes to effectuate the budget.

WHAT THE BILL DID: Makes statutory and session law changes relating to health care necessary to implement the FY 2026 state budget.

WHY IT MATTERED: The practical reason for this bill was to give patients a defined set of rights and a clear informed-consent standard. It would continues to require AHCCCS to transfer to the counties any excess monies necessary to comply with the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, regarding the counties' proportional share of the state's contribution, and would also continues to allow AHCCCS, for the contract year beginning October 1, 2025, and ending on September 30, 2026, to extend risk contingency rate settings for all managed care organizations (MCOs) and funding for all MCO administrative funding levels imposed for the contract year beginning October 1, 2010, and ending September 30,, rather than leave the current rule unchanged.