How the Senate is voting on dueling ACA subsidy plans as the House readies its own package.
Sharing your input on the ADHS Licensee Experience Survey.
CMS approves HEALTHII payments
On Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approved the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System’s (AHCCCS) submittal for the Hospital Enhanced Access Leading to Health Improvements Initiative (HEALTHII) payments.
The approval will provide $2.9 million in net HEALTHII payments to Arizona hospitals through Sept. 30, 2026.
Why it matters: HEALTHII payments were designed to supplement Medicaid reimbursements and reduce the gap between treatment costs and Medicaid rates.
These payments help hospitals maintain financial stability while serving Medicaid patients.
To receive approval, AHCCCS must submit an annual pre-print to CMS.
Payments follow a federal fiscal year cycle from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30 and are funded through a combination of hospital assessments and federal matching funds.
What’s next: AHCCCS is developing a timeline for collecting the Health Care Investment Fund assessment from hospitals and distributing HEALTHII payments.
For more information, please contact Amy Upston, director of financial policy and reimbursement.
Senate votes on dueling ACA subsidy plans as House readies its own package
With the enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits set to expire in less than three weeks – and only about a week of legislative session remaining – Congress is exploring competing endgames.
Today, the Senate is expected to vote on dueling plans: the Democrats’ bill to extend the enhanced subsidies for three years and a GOP alternative from Senators Mike Crapo and Bill Cassidy that would not extend the credits but would instead deposit roughly $1,000–$1,500 into health savings accounts for certain marketplace enrollees.
Neither bill is expected to reach the 60 vote threshold.
House Republicans are moving in parallel to assemble their own healthcare package for possible action before the holiday recess, with leadership and committee chairs working to lock in a framework and gauge conference consensus.
The policy proposals could center on expanded or pre-funded health savings accounts to help offset out-of-pocket costs, marketplace reforms aimed at lowering premiums and targeted eligibility changes.
GOP moderates are pushing back, warning that the premium shock from letting the subsidies expire would hit quickly in 2026, especially for working and middle-income households.
President Trump continues to signal enthusiasm for the concept of directing money “to the people” but has not endorsed an extension plan or any single legislative policy framework, leaving lawmakers without clear direction as time runs short.
Take the ADHS Licensee Experiences Survey
The ADHS Licensee Experiences Survey is designed to help AzHHA, the Arizona Health Care Association (AHCA) and the Arizona Council of Human Services Providers (The Council) collect information about your experiences with site surveys conducted by the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) and the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS).
The survey focuses on five sections: survey frequency, surveyor professionalism, customer service, transparency and consistency, and interpretation and application.
Set priorities for reform. This will guide what we ask ADHS and lawmakers to change first.
Give us a reality check. Data from the field will help us push for practical reforms.
Measure progress. A clear baseline will help us track whether things improve.
The bottom line: The more detail you share, the better.
Your feedback is critical to understanding the challenges healthcare institutions face during the licensing process, particularly regarding transparency, professionalism and consistency.
The information you share is 100% anonymous. Results will be aggregated.
What’s next: Please complete the survey by Friday, Dec. 19, 2025.
Share it with colleagues who manage or participate in licensing surveys (compliance, quality, nursing, operations, legal, etc.).
APAL webinar series now available to support maternal mental health
The Arizona Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (AIM) Collaborative has worked with the Arizona Psychiatry Access Lines (APAL) to offer a new webinar series to nurses and physicians.
Why it matters: Mental health conditions are the most common complication during pregnancy and childbirth, affecting 1 in 5 childbearing individuals.
The APAL webinar series is designed to equip healthcare professionals with the knowledge, empathy and clinical insight needed to recognize, respond to and support patients experiencing these issues.
This free training offers two tracks with free continuing education credits for participants.
The bottom line: These trainings will help hospitals and health systems throughout the state reach our AIM bundle goals for the Perinatal Mental Health Conditions, and Care for Pregnant and Postpartum People with Substance Use Disorder bundles.
The big picture: The APAL webinar series is made possible by funding and support from the Arizona Department of Health Services. We’re grateful for their backing so we can reach healthcare professionals with this important training to improve maternal mental health in our state.
Support the Health Workforce Wellbeing Day of Awareness
As of Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, 44 individuals across 28 organizations have signed on to support the March 18 Proclamation for Health Workforce Wellbeing.
Why it matters: This is a powerful step toward making wellbeing visible, valued and embedded in the culture of healthcare across Arizona.
What’s next: Please use this sign-up form to add your support for the Governor to proclaim March 18 as Health Workforce Wellbeing Day of Awareness in Arizona.
The organization you list on the form will be added to a list that will be sent to the Governor.
Deadline to add your name is Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025.
Member spotlight: Onvida Health
Onvida Health and the University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix announced Arizona’s first rural regional medical school branch in Yuma.
This partnership introduces a three-year Primary Care Accelerated Pathway leading to an MD degree, with clinical training based entirely at Onvida Health.
What’s next: Starting in July 2026, up to 45 qualified students - 15 per year - from a competitive applicant pool who are committed to careers in primary care, including internal medicine, family medicine and pediatrics, will be admitted to the program and awarded full-tuition scholarships funded by Onvida Health.
Each cohort will complete the first 18 months of the three-year curriculum, focusing on the foundational sciences, in Phoenix.
