Bulletins and newsletters

• 02.24.2025 - AHCCCS 2025 Coding Changes and Telehealth Updates
• 02.21.2025 - Providers are encouraged to check the AHCCCS Exclusion List regularly, and prior to hiring or contracting with staff and/or partnering with an individual or organization to provide services to AHCCCS members. AHCCCS will deny prior authorizations or claims submitted by a provider which include the use of an excluded entity or individual.
  The AHCCCS Exclusion List and information about exclusion can be found here
• 02.11.2025 - Attention AHCCCS Providers: *Registration Open* AHWGMA Informational Webinar(s) and Q&A Session(s). Don’t forget to register for one of the informational webinars or Q&A sessions for 2025’s Arizona Healthcare Workforce Goals and Metrics Assessment (AHWGMA). 
• 02.07.2025 - Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) Communication
• 02.05.2025 - Well-child visit recommendations & best practices
• 02.04.2025 - ACA Marketplace and Unauthorized Plan Switching
• 12.31.2024 - Covered Behavioral Health Services Guide
  The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) has published revisions to the AHCCCS Covered Behavioral Health Services Guide (CBHSG) and the AHCCCS Same Day Disallow Table on December 23, 2024, with an effective date of January 1, 2025. 
  
  Please refer to the footnotes included in the CBHSG and the Same Day Disallow Table, which indicate revisions to the previous version: https://azahcccs.gov/PlansProviders/MedicalCodingResources.html
  
  
  Additional Questions? Email CBHSGCodingQuestions@azahcccs.gov.  
  
  The guide has been published to the Medical Coding Resources web page (go to the Behavioral Health Services Matrix, Guide, and Same Day Disallow Table drop down menu).
• 12.20.2024 - We warmly invite Tribal and Non-Tribal practitioners, birth workers, community members as well as urban and rural relatives of color and allies to the BIPOC Focused PSI Certification Training in Tucson!
  Please join us for an essential, culturally aware training focused on evidence-based approaches to prevent and support Perinatal Mental Health challenges like baby blue, postpartum depression and anxiety.
• 12.17.2024 - Arizona Pet Project
• 12.10.2024 - Perinatal Mental Health Certification (PMH-C) is now a recognized Area of Expertise in the UHCCP provider directory. Individuals can search for providers who have completed focused education in perinatal mental health, as recognized by Postpartum Support International.
• 12.01.2024 - Medicaid: Understanding claims-based member assignments and capitated payments
• 11.06.2024 - Training Announcement: Preventing Veteran Suicide: Strategies and Resources for Community-Based Health Care Professionals.
  When: Wednesday, November 20, 2024, from 11-12 Arizona time.
  Click HERE to register for this live training and other on demand training opportunities!
• 09.18.2024- Revised AHCCCS Minimum Subcontract Provisions effective October 1, 2024
• 09.06.2024 - Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) has approved the use of Certified Doula Services effective October 1, 2024. Doula’s provide continuous physical, emotional, and information support to people before, during and shortly after childbirth. FAQ’s and additional details can be found at: Doula Providers (azahcccs.gov).
• 08.23.2024 - Impact of Medications on risk of heat-related illness
• 08.13.2024- AHCCCS-ATD WFD Executive Leadership Accelerator Series Officially Launches! - AHCCCS Launches Workforce Development Executive Leadership Accelerator Series for Senior Executives at Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Provider Organizations.
  
  AHCCCS has teamed with the Association for Talent Development (ATD)—the foremost global expert in workplace learning and development—to provide a leadership event designed exclusively for senior executives to help healthcare business leaders align organizational culture with workforce capability. 
  
  Click this link for more information.
  
  
• 08.12.2024 - PCP Reminder - VFC 2024 re-enrollment instruction guide - UnitedHealthcare Community Plan providers with members younger than 19 years of age assigned must participate in the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program. Re-enrollment ends Aug 31, 2024. If your location is inactivated from the VFC program, your members may be reassigned to another VFC registered PCP.
• 08.06.2024 - Important update from AHCCCS on VFC Vaccines Coding and Reimbursement
• 07.29.2024 - Effective August 1st, branded Humira will be moved to non-preferred status. AHCCCS has approved 3 different biosimilar manufacturers for preferred status:
  
• • Simlandi products (FDA approved for interchangeability with Humira)
  • Hadlima products (FDA has accepted their application for interchangeability with Humira)
  • Unbranded Adalimumab-ABDM products manufactured by Boehringer Ingelheim (not currently FDA approved for interchangeability with Humira)
    
    
• 07.26.2024 - Attention AHCCCS Medicaid Providers: *Coming Soon* Healthcare Network Employee Questionnaire (HNEQ)
• 07.09.2024 - IMPORTANT: Covered Behavioral Health Services Guide (CBHSG) with an effective date of October 1, 2024

This resource will be available to Providers by COB Friday, July 12, 2024.

The CBHSG is not subject to public comment; however, AHCCCS will be collecting questions on the guide between July 15, 2024  and September 15, 2024. Questions will be used to inform a frequently asked questions (FAQ) document as well as develop training materials for providers and stakeholders. Please submit all questions via email to CBHSGCodingQuestions@azahcccs.gov.

The guide has been published to the Medical Coding Resources page and can be found under the Behavioral Health Service Matrix and Guide drop down https://www.azahcccs.gov/PlansProviders/MedicalCodingResources.html.

We encourage you to review this material and submit questions as outlined above.

• 06.05.2024 - AZ Medicaid NCQA HEDIS Advanced Illness and Frailty Exclusion
• 05.29.2024 - Updated AHCCCS Minimum Subcontract Provisions (MSP) Effective October 1, 2024 for all AHCCCS Registered Providers
  
• 04.26.2024 - Physician certification is required for member hospice care
  
• AHCCCS has always required a physician certification for member hospice care.  To ensure compliance, we are requiring physician certifications to be submitted with hospice claims starting June 1, 2024 for ACC members. Please be sure the certification meets the requirements of AMPM 310-J and lists the dates of service for each initial and subsequent recertification. For more information, please see AHCCCS FFS Provider Manual Ch. 23 and AHCCCS AMPM Policy 310-J.
  
  A physician must certify that the member is terminally ill. Hospice care is limited to those members who are in the final stages of a terminal illness (i.e., members who have a prognosis of death within six months). The initial physician certification is effective for 90 days. If the member continues to need services, the physician must recertify for a second 90-day period. Subsequent recertifications for 60-day periods are required if the member continues to require hospice services. Use the attached links for additional information.
  • https://www.azahcccs.gov/shared/Downloads/MedicalPolicyManual/300/310-J.pdf
  • https://www.azahcccs.gov/PlansProviders/Downloads/FFSProviderManual/FFS_Chap23Hospice.pdf
• 04.18.2024 - Important AHCCCS Medical Policy Manual 510 revisions
• 04.03.2024 - Clarification of appropriate use of Respite Services AMPM 310B and 1250-D
• 04.01.2024 - Medicaid: Continuous glucose monitors added to pharmacy benefit
• 03.27.2024 - Extencillin availability during Bicillin shortage
• 03.18.2024 - BeConnected is the designated AHCCCS state-sponsored resource provider for veterans; UHC providers are encouraged to familiarize themselves with their services to better assist veteran patients. 

• 11.29.2023 - ATD Integrated Talent Management Certificate Program - AHCCCS and the Association for Talent Development (ATD) have partnered to provide expert-led professional development programs for AHCCCS health care providers so they can more effectively recruit and develop staff and retain their workforces. Click here https://www.azahcccs.gov/AHCCCS/Initiatives/ARPA/HCBSCourses.html to register. 
  
• 11.06.2023 - Round 2 of the AHCCCS ARP Program Awards - Organizations that applied for Round 1 are encouraged to apply again for Round 2, whether their Round 1 application was awarded or denied.
• 11.01.2023 - Community Plan: Pharmacy policy updates effective Dec. 1
• 10.26.2023 - DDD Developing Conference for Behavioral Health Providers
• 10.23.2023 - Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) Request for Information Notification - DDD plans to gather information through a Request for Information (RFI) from current or potential providers to improve residential services for individuals with co-occurring intellectual and developmental disability and behavioral health needs. The RFI is expected to be posted on Oct 16, 2023. Current and potential providers must self register in the Arizona Procurement Portal (APP) to participate. Additional information and assistance with APP. Online tutorials, reference guides and FAQs available here: https://spo.az.gov/suppliers/app-support.
• 10.19.2023 - Medicaid: Help ensure covered lab services, refer patients to Labcorp
• 10.04.2023 - DDD Behavioral Health Training Incentive Plan
  
• 09.20.2023 - Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) Data with ICD-10-CM Z Codes
• 08.04.2023 - Arizona Drug Summit Uniting for Solutions 
  
• 08.01.2023 - Talk to your patients about Count the Kicks and order free materials by visiting www.CountTheKicks.org
• 08.01.2023 - Medicaid: Updated requirements for anthropometric and biochemical data
• 06.28.2023 - WIC Update for Providers and Physicians
  
• 06.15.2023 - If Your Patient Loses AHCCCS Coverage They May Have Continuity of Care Option
• 05.09.2023 - AHCCCS, in association with U of A, is launching the Arizona Perinatal Access Line (APAL), which allows the maternity provider to connect with a perinatal psychiatrist for clinical guidance. 
• 04.28.2023 - Translation/Interpretation Services are available for all UnitedHealthcare Community Members. The existing phone number and codes provided will be inactive as of April 30th. 2023. Effective May 1, 2023, please contact Provider Services to request translation or interpretation services for our members by calling 1-800-445-1638.
• 04.14.2023 - NEMT Providers Subject to High-Risk Screening - Effective May 1, 2023
• 04.13.2023 - BH OP Coding Thresholds - Effective April 15, 2023
• 03.29.2023 - AHCCCS Adds Community Health Worker Services as Medicaid Service
• 03.29.2023 - AHCCCS ARP Program Awards for Providers - AHCCCS is investing funds from the American Rescue Plan (ARP) into a $40 million award program to strengthen Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) in the state. This applies, but is not limited to; BH Outpatient Clinics, Integrated Clinics, ALH’s, Adult Foster Care and Adult Day Health providers. Applications open April 17 through May 16. Additional information available here:  https://www.azahcccs.gov/AHCCCS/Initiatives/downloads/ARPA/AHCCCSARPFAQs.pdf
• 03.29.2023 - Community Health Worker/Community Health Representative (CHW/CHR) FAQs
• 03.06.2023 - Help Your Patients Avoid a Lapse in Their Medicaid Coverage

Click here to access the Monthly Network News Brief articles

Access the articles shared in the monthly network news brief emails. Arizona-specific information is identified along with the date the article was shared. Review this regularly to keep up to date on the Community Plan of Arizona updates and reminders.