Last August, a judge determined that the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System had improperly issued contracts to two health care companies. AHCCCS provides long-term care services to 26,000 older adults and people with physical disabilities.
Now, a new agreement has been reached.
Long-term care recipients were supposed to be transitioned to new health plans on Oct. 1, 2024. In addition, AHCCCS reduced the number of those plans. The plans that did not get contracts appealed, and an administrative law judge determined that AHCCCS “did not comply with statutes and regulations or were otherwise improper.”
AHCCCS eventually paused the transition, and on May 2, the agency announced that four health plans will be covering services for Arizonans enrolled in ALTCS starting this October.
Mercy Care was one of the health plans that appealed. In a statement to KJZZ, the plan said it is pleased with this latest decision:
"We’re pleased that Mercy Care will be able to continue serving Arizona Long Term Care System Elderly and/or Physically Disabled (EPD) Medicaid members under the settlement agreement that awards Mercy Care a new contract effective October 1, 2025. We look forward to continuing to provide our members with access to high-quality, integrated care."
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