ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Phoenix, Arizona
AHCCCS coverage; woman;
cancer
Purpose
Expands, beginning October
1, 2001, coverage under the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS)
to certain women who need treatment for breast or cervical cancer. Contains a blank appropriation.
Background
In October 2000, the federal
Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment Act of 2000 was enacted,
providing states with the option to provide medical assistance through Medicaid
to eligible women who are screened for and found to have breast or cervical
cancer through the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program
(NBCCEDP). The NBCCEDP, which is
administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), provides
free breast and cervical cancer screening and follow-up diagnostic services to
women who are uninsured or have low-income.
In Arizona, the Department of Health Services (DHS) administers the
NBCCEDP under the Well Woman Healthcheck Program. The program is available to women who are at or below 200 percent
of the federal poverty level (FPL; $23,220 for a household of two). Native American women are eligible up to 250
percent FPL ($29,025 for a household of two).
According to the CDC, 22
states have introduced legislation this year relating to the Breast and
Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment Act of 2000 and Maryland has already
submitted an amendment to its state Medicaid plan to the federal Health Care
Financing Administration. S.B. 1112
expands AHCCCS coverage for low-income and uninsured women who are below age 65
and are screened for and found to have breast or cervical cancer through the
DHS Well Woman Healthcheck Program.
According to the AHCCCS
administration, the state’s matching rate of providing medical assistance to
this new Medicaid-optional population is approximately 26 percent. The matching rate for administrative costs
is 50 percent. AHCCCS estimates the
state’s cost to be $1.3 million for FY 2001-2001 and $2.6 million for FY
2002-2003. These cost estimates were
based on the potential number of diagnosed cases of women with breast or
cervical cancer who have income between 100 percent and 250 percent FPL. Additional state funds have been built into
the state’s share of costs to enable DHS to provide screening and diagnostic
services on a statewide basis.
Provisions
1. Expands, as of October 1, 2001, AHCCCS eligibility for women who are under age 65, have been screened for breast and cervical cancer through the DHS Well Woman Healthcheck Program, need breast or cervical cancer treatment and do not have health insurance coverage.
2. Limits coverage for this population to medically necessary services during the treatment period.
3. Requires the administration to use a simplified eligibility form and expedite eligibility determination and enrollment on a prospective basis.
4. Appropriates a blank amount in FY 2001-2002 from the state general fund to AHCCCS for the state’s share of the new population. Exempts the appropriation from lapsing.
5. Caps, to five percent of the appropriation, the amount AHCCCS can spend on administrative costs.
6. Provides for a general effective date, except as noted.
Prepared by Senate Staff
February 16, 2001