ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Phoenix, Arizona
transfer of monies; health
centers
(NOW: medically underserved
areas; capital; appropriation)
Purpose
Appropriates $2.5 million in
FYs 2001-2002 and 2002-2003 from the state general fund to the Department of
Health Services (DHS) for capital project grants to public and nonprofit
entities that provide health care and dental services.
Background
For FY 1997-1998, the
Legislature appropriated $2.5 million from the medically needy account to DHS
for capital project grants to public and private nonprofit entities that
provide health care in rural and medically underserved areas (Laws 1997,
Chapter 257). The capital projects may
include the purchase or lease of land, buildings, mobile medical clinics,
equipment and furnishings, telemedicine equipment and facilities and other
costs necessary to construct, expand or renovate health care facilities to
expand or provide primary care services.
Various communities have received grants through this program,
including: Ash Fork, Buckeye, Elfrida, Gila Bend, Marana, Maricopa, Maricopa
County, Nogales, Page, Phoenix, St. Johns, St. Michaels and Tucson.
In previous years, the
Legislature has reauthorized this program by appropriating $2.5 million in FY
1998-1999 and FY 1999-2000. However,
funding for this program was not continued in 2000. H.B. 2459 re-establishes this program by appropriating $2.5
million in FY 2001-2002 and FY 2002-2003 from the state general fund for
capital project grants to public and private nonprofit entities providing
health care and dental services in rural or medically underserved areas.
Provisions
1. Appropriates $2.5 million in FYs 2001-2002 and 2002-2003 from the state general fund to DHS for capital project grants to public and nonprofit entities that provide health care and dental services in rural areas.
2. Sets a maximum of $500,000 for a single medical capital project grant and $350,000 for a dental capital project grant.
3. Directs DHS to give preference to applicants that provide telemedicine services in rural areas and to applicants with matching or in-kind contributions.
4. Prohibits DHS from funding capital projects that receive monies under the primary care program.
5. Limits recipients to a maximum of two capital project grants total and to one capital project grant in a two-year period.
6. Defines capital projects.
House Action
PIRA 2/13/01 DPA/SE 10-0-0-0
APPROP 3/6/01 DPA/SE 12-1-0-3
3rd Read 3/19/01 49-7-4-0
Prepared by Senate Staff
March 22, 2001