Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System
Encyclopedia
The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) is the name of the Medicaid
program in the state of Arizona
. As with all Medicaid programs, it is a joint program between the state
and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
(CMS). It became the final such state Medicaid program to implemented under Title XIX (as all other states had previously created their own programs) when it began in October 1982 as a section 1115 demonstration project. The program acronym AHCCCS is frequently pronounced like the word "access."
In 1987, under a policy recommended by the AHCCCS, the Arizona state legislature voted to extend health care to some pregnant women and children in the indigent population and defund organ transplants. Subsequently, the AHCCCS received significant media attention after a woman from Yuma was denied funding for a liver transplant and died as a result.
Until 1988, AHCCCS covered only acute care
, except for limited post-hospital skilled nursing facility coverage. The Arizona Long Term Care System (ALTCS) was created to allow Arizona to implement a long-term care
(LTC) program for the elderly, physically disabled, and the developmentally disabled. It is administered as a distinct program from the acute care program.
In 1990, AHCCCS began phasing in mental health
services, beginning with coverage of seriously emotionally disabled children under the age of 18 who require residential care. Over the next five years, behavioral health
coverage was extended to all Medicaid eligible persons.
In 2001, AHCCCS received permission from CMS to expand eligibility for its Medicaid acute care program to 100 percent of the Federal Poverty Level
.
As of 2005, almost 1,013,800 people were served in the acute care program and close to 41,655 were enrolled in the LTC program. In addition, 50,672 children were enrolled in the Arizona SCHIP
program, known as KidsCare.
Medicaid
Medicaid is the United States health program for certain people and families with low incomes and resources. It is a means-tested program that is jointly funded by the state and federal governments, and is managed by the states. People served by Medicaid are U.S. citizens or legal permanent...
program in the state of Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
. As with all Medicaid programs, it is a joint program between the state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services , previously known as the Health Care Financing Administration , is a federal agency within the United States Department of Health and Human Services that administers the Medicare program and works in partnership with state governments to administer...
(CMS). It became the final such state Medicaid program to implemented under Title XIX (as all other states had previously created their own programs) when it began in October 1982 as a section 1115 demonstration project. The program acronym AHCCCS is frequently pronounced like the word "access."
In 1987, under a policy recommended by the AHCCCS, the Arizona state legislature voted to extend health care to some pregnant women and children in the indigent population and defund organ transplants. Subsequently, the AHCCCS received significant media attention after a woman from Yuma was denied funding for a liver transplant and died as a result.
Until 1988, AHCCCS covered only acute care
Acute care
Acute care is a branch of secondary health care where a patient receives active but short-term treatment for a severe injury or episode of illness, an urgent medical condition, or during recovery from surgery...
, except for limited post-hospital skilled nursing facility coverage. The Arizona Long Term Care System (ALTCS) was created to allow Arizona to implement a long-term care
Long-term care
Long-term care is a variety of services which help meet both the medical and non-medical need of people with a chronic illness or disability who cannot care for themselves for long periods of time....
(LTC) program for the elderly, physically disabled, and the developmentally disabled. It is administered as a distinct program from the acute care program.
In 1990, AHCCCS began phasing in mental health
Mental health
Mental health describes either a level of cognitive or emotional well-being or an absence of a mental disorder. From perspectives of the discipline of positive psychology or holism mental health may include an individual's ability to enjoy life and procure a balance between life activities and...
services, beginning with coverage of seriously emotionally disabled children under the age of 18 who require residential care. Over the next five years, behavioral health
Behavioral health
In psychology behavioral health, as a general concept, refers to the reciprocal relationship between human behavior, individually or socially, and the well-being of the body, mind, and spirit, whether the latter are considered individually or as an integrated whole...
coverage was extended to all Medicaid eligible persons.
In 2001, AHCCCS received permission from CMS to expand eligibility for its Medicaid acute care program to 100 percent of the Federal Poverty Level
Poverty threshold
The poverty threshold, or poverty line, is the minimum level of income deemed necessary to achieve an adequate standard of living in a given country...
.
As of 2005, almost 1,013,800 people were served in the acute care program and close to 41,655 were enrolled in the LTC program. In addition, 50,672 children were enrolled in the Arizona SCHIP
State Children's Health Insurance Program
The State Children's Health Insurance Program – later known more simply as the Children's Health Insurance Program – is a program administered by the United States Department of Health and Human Services that provides matching funds to states for health insurance to families with children...
program, known as KidsCare.