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State leaders misled public about scope of Medicaid fraud crisis
State leaders have admitted that fraudulent billing extended beyond a small portion of the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, contradicting previous assertions that fraud only impacted a small share of the agency. The revelations came to light after AZCIR pressed AHCCCS about its waiver of key provider screenings during the pandemic, ultimately affecting the agency’s entire provider ecosystem, not just those highlighted as the epicenter of the scandal.
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HEALTH
AHCCCS alerted to ‘predictable’ homelessness surge before fraud crackdown
The embattled state agency at the center of Arizona’s ongoing behavioral health crisis knew its proposed billing reforms could trigger a surge in homelessness nearly a year before implementing the changes, yet failed to prepare accordingly. Though AHCCCS claims it worked to connect victims with ‘reputable’ housing, it arranged for just three facilities—all in the…
Patients, advocates describe ‘pure chaos’ in state response to AHCCCS fraud
The state’s failure to adequately anticipate the impact of widespread suspensions among behavioral health providers has put members of an already susceptible population at further risk of relapse, abuse, homelessness and even death as operators shut down.
Road to Recovery
As Arizona officials crack down on fraudulent behavioral health providers, suspending payments to hundreds of them in a sweeping statewide response, those in need of treatment were caught in the middle, often left on their own to find a path forward.
Investors, cannabis corporations acquire more social equity licenses as deadline to open dispensaries looms
As Arizona’s remaining social equity license holders scramble to open marijuana dispensaries before a looming October deadline, private investors and major cannabis corporations have continued to wrest control away from the individuals the program was designed to benefit.
Corporate marijuana dispensaries flex financial muscle, overtake Arizona’s social equity program
Arizona’s social equity program created a path to entrepreneurship for individuals harmed by previous marijuana laws when the state legalized adult-use cannabis in 2021. But nearly two years since 26 social equity applicants were drawn from a lottery, existing corporate dispensaries have wielded their power to get a stake in at least half of the…
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