HB2796

THE CONTEXT: Established in 1981, AHCCCS is Arizona's Medicaid program that oversees contracted health plans for the delivery of health care to individuals and families who qualify for Medicaid and other medical assistance programs. Through contracted health plans across the state, AHCCCS delivers health care to qualifying individuals including low-income adults, their children or people with certain disabilities.

WHAT THE BILL DID: The final vetoed version would require AHCCCS to enter into a data matching agreement with Department of Revenue (DOR) to identify members who have lottery or gambling winnings of $3,000 or more and directs AHCCCS to review this information at least once a month, declares that a member who fails to disclose winnings of $3,000 or more and who is identified by AHCCCS through the database match is in violation of AHCCCS's terms of eligibility, and require AHCCCS, at least once a month, to: a; receive and review death record information from the Department of Health Services concerning its members and to adjust system eligibility accordingly; and b; review information concerning members indicating a change in circumstances that may affect eligibility, including changes in residency as identified by out-of-state electronic benefit transfer card transactions.

WHY IT MATTERED: The practical reason for this bill was to give the people who rely on the rule clearer information and a defined reporting process. It would require AHCCCS to enter into a data matching agreement with Department of Revenue (DOR) to identify members who have lottery or gambling winnings of $3,000 or more and directs AHCCCS to review this information at least once a month, and would also declares that a member who fails to disclose winnings of $3,000 or more and who is identified by AHCCCS through the database match is in violation of AHCCCS's terms of eligibility, rather than leave the current rule unchanged.