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Arizona Mirror

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Arizona GOP Gubernatorial Nominee Proposed Medicaid Elimination as State Senator in 2011

Andy Biggs, the Republican nominee for Arizona governor, introduced legislation as a state senator in 2011 to abolish Arizona's Medicaid program, citing unsustainable costs to taxpayers. The proposal sought to end state participation in Medicaid entirely rather than provide health coverage for low-income residents. As a gubernatorial candidate, Biggs' previous position on Medicaid elimination is resurfacing as voters and stakeholders assess his stance on the program. Arizona's Medicaid program currently covers approximately 2.4 million residents, including expansion populations adopted under the Affordable Care Act.

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State Policy·AZ·27d ago

Arizona Audit Proposal Would Cut Disability Services by Up to $493M, Not Parent Caregiver Fraud

An Arizona Auditor General report issued in July 2026 estimated the state could reduce spending by $133 million to $493 million by implementing age-based standardized assessments that decrease authorized services for children with disabilities. The audit did not find widespread fraud in Arizona's Parents as Paid Caregivers model, which allows qualified parents to provide already-authorized Medicaid home and community-based services. Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System paused a similar standardized assessment tool in October 2025 after 16 days due to legal and operational concerns. Advocates argue the projected savings would come from unfilled care needs, not program efficiencies, and could shift costs to emergency and institutional settings.

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State Policy·AZ·34d ago

Arizona ACA Premiums Rise 28-35% Following Federal Healthcare Cuts, Hospital Closures Begin

Arizona marketplace premiums increased 28% to 35% in 2026 following the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which reduced healthcare funding by over $1 trillion through 2034. Insurers have requested additional rate hikes averaging 25.4% for 2027, and Select Specialty Hospital-Tucson East announced closure in September 2026. Medicaid work requirements and coverage restrictions effective January 2027 are projected to result in 123,000 to 246,000 Arizonans losing Medicaid expansion coverage by 2028. The changes follow expiration of enhanced ACA premium tax credits and cuts to Medicaid funding.

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State Policy·AZ·51d ago

Arizona Audit Finds AHCCCS Failed to Implement Parent Caregiver Payment Limits

A state audit found that Arizona's Medicaid agency (AHCCCS) has not implemented legally required payment limits for parents who serve as paid caregivers for their developmentally disabled children, more than a year after the regulations became law. Auditors estimate the delay has cost the state hundreds of millions of dollars as program costs continue to escalate. The audit flags ongoing failure to enforce standardized payment guardrails designed to control expenditures in the state's long-term services and supports program for individuals with developmental disabilities.

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State Policy·AZ·87d ago

Arizona Democrats Report Coverage Losses One Year After Federal Budget Reconciliation

Democrats in Arizona are reporting increased coverage losses among state residents one year after enactment of the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," federal budget reconciliation legislation that reduced federal spending on healthcare programs including Medicaid. The officials indicate families in Arizona have experienced difficulty accessing public coverage. The law, signed by President Trump in 2025, included cuts to programs serving lower-income populations. State leaders are documenting the legislation's effects on Arizona's Medicaid program and beneficiary enrollment.

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