ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Phoenix, Arizona
AHCCCS; foster care
providers
Authorizes the Arizona
Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) administration, or a
subcontractor, to enforce standards for adult foster care providers serving
Arizona Long Term Care System (ALTCS) members.
According to AHCCCS, adult
foster care homes are a cost effective home and community based setting, and
over 64 percent of ALTCS members who live in alternative residential settings
reside in these types of homes. These
private homes each serve up to four clients in a residential family setting and
must comply with minimum standards prescribed by the Department of Health
Services (DHS).
Pursuant to A.R.S. §36-410,
DHS can either enforce these standards or delegate enforcement authority to a
county that accepts responsibility.
Currently, Maricopa, Pima and Yavapai counties have delegation of
authority to certify adult foster care homes and are responsible for
recertifying the homes and investigating complaints. In addition, these county program contractors provide other
services such as recruiting of new homes, providing training to the families,
helping with service plans and billing.
These counties are not reimbursed for this function.
As of October 1, 2000, there
are three program contractors for ALTCS members in Maricopa County and there
may be more than one program contractor in Pima County after October 1,
2001. In addition, Yavapai County will
also be competitively bid as of October 1, 2001. Since counties may no longer be the sole program contractor,
there is a concern that a county that has elected delegation may no longer want
to enforce the adult foster care home standards. In the event a county elects to stop certifying adult foster care
homes, S.B. 1146 provides DHS with the option of allowing AHCCCS, or its
subcontractor, to enforce standards for these homes.
Under
the provisions of this bill and in the event Maricopa, Pima and Yavapai
counties elect to stop certifying adult foster care homes, the cost of
enforcing standards and providing the other services that counties currently
provide could be approximately $400,000.
1. Expands the entities DHS is authorized to delegate authority for enforcing standards governing ALTCS adult foster care providers to include AHCCCS or its subcontractors.
2. Authorizes AHCCCS to accept this responsibility.
3. Makes conforming and technical changes.
4. Provides for a general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Staff
January 19, 2001