Michael Heiser

The agenda for the meeting includes welcoming remarks and a review of council agreements, administrative updates from AHCCCS, and a behind-the-scenes look at the Children's System of Care program. The council will also focus on a session dedicated to prioritizing preventive health, followed by general announcements and an open discussion period for members.

The meeting agenda includes a presentation on behavioral health services in Northern Arizona, a discussion regarding the Consultant Statement of Work and the Mental Health Block Grant mini application. Additionally, the council will receive updates from various committees including Advocacy, Membership, Data and Evaluation, Youth, Serious Mental Illness, Older Adult, and Co-occurring Disorders, followed by state agency updates and an open call to the public.

This document outlines Arizona's comprehensive Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) Initiatives, designed to address critical healthcare access challenges in the state's rural and Tribal communities. The plan is structured around four primary pillars: developing and retaining a skilled rural health workforce, implementing priority grants for behavioral health and substance use disorder, maternal-fetal health, and chronic disease prevention, expanding healthcare accessibility through telehealth and innovative care models, and building resilient rural healthcare infrastructure via shared services and technical assistance. The overarching goal is to enhance health outcomes, expand service reach, and ensure the operational sustainability of rural healthcare services.

The meeting featured a presentation of the Fee-for-Service strategic plan, updates on Operations, and discussions regarding the Rural Health Transformation Program, including grant portfolios and tribal engagement pathways. Participants reviewed proposed updates to the Applied Behavior Analysis services policy, discussed the implementation of H.R. 1 and its impacts on Medicaid eligibility, and received updates on the 1115 Demonstration Waiver renewal, traditional healing rate evaluations, and state plan amendments for FQHC and RHC services.

The committee meeting covered a wide range of topics, including AHCCCS agency updates, implementation statuses for H.R.1 and the Rural Health Transformation Program, and a spotlight on the Creek Valley Health Clinic. Discussions included membership nominations and voting, updates on Differential Adjusted Payments (DAP), and upcoming community forums regarding the ALTCS Needs Tool, Extraordinary Care Review, and Applied Behavior Analysis policies. Additionally, results from the 2025 preventive survey were reviewed, and a needs assessment for Maricopa County was presented to the membership.