AHCCCS; Alzheimer's; pilot
project
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Committee on Health |
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W/D |
Committee on Appropriations |
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DP |
Caucus and COW |
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X |
As Transmitted To The Governor |
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SB 1299 allows any Alzheimer's treatment assistive living facility to participate in the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System's (AHCCCS) Alzheimer's pilot project. It also modifies the eligibility requirements to allow more sites to participate and extends the pilot project until October 1, 2005.
In 1999, the legislature created a pilot project to allow AHCCCS to determine the cost-effectiveness and quality of care a patient might receive in an assistive living facility with the purpose of serving Alzheimer's and dementia patients. Originally 13 sites were qualified to participate, but only two chose to do so. The goal of the pilot was to have 75 persons participating in the second year and 100 participating in the third year. With only two sites involved in the project in the second year, AHCCCS has been unable to meet this goal.
Some sites choose not to participate because of the requirement for each patient to have a private bathroom and a single room. However, if the alternative for that patient is moving to a nursing home or an urban area, AHCCCS is willing to waive that requirement and allow the person to participate in the pilot project.