ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Phoenix, Arizona
community health centers
(NOW: AHCCCS coverage; cancer;
women)
Expands, beginning January 1, 2002, coverage under the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) to certain women who need treatment for breast or cervical cancer. Appropriates a total of $2.7 million over the biennium to cover the state's share of the new population.
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. H.B. 2194 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 $1.4 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 January 1, 2002 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 AHCCCS to use a simplified eligibility form and expedite eligibility determination and enrollment on a prospective basis.
4. Appropriates $1.3 million in FY 2001-2002 and $1.4 million in FY 2002-2003 from the state general fund to AHCCCS for the state’s share of the new population.
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.
Amendments Adopted by Government Committee
Adopted the strike everything amendment.
Amendments Adopted by Appropriations Committee
Adopted the strike everything amendment.
Amendments Adopted by Committee of the Whole
Adopted the Government committee amendment.
Senate Action
GOV 4/9/01 DPA/SE 5-0-1-0
APPROP 4/10/01 DPA/SE 11-0-1-0
3rd Read 4/27/01 29-0-1
Prepared by Senate Staff
May 9, 2001