More than 400,000 people enrolled in the state Medicaid program, known as the Arizona Healthcare Cost Containment System or AHCCCS, could be subject to new work requirements starting on Jan. 1, 2027. Now AHCCCS is launching a new website to help Arizonans navigate the rule changes.
The new Medicaid work requirements were approved last year as part of the Republican tax and spending plan HR.1.
About 1.7 million Arizonans are covered by AHCCCS. The new rules could apply to about 417,000 enrollees with household incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty level who became eligible for AHCCCS after Arizona expanded access to Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.
To keep AHCCCS coverage after Jan. 1, adults between the ages of 19 and 64 who fall into this expansion group will have to spend at least 80 hours per month working, volunteering or going to school. And they will have to renew their AHCCCS enrollment every six months.
But the new rules include many exemptions for people with disabilities, caregivers, pregnant people and other groups.
“A lot of our members will not be impacted,” said AHCCCS interim director Roberta Harrison. But, she added, “I don't imagine that most people know which group they fall into eligibility-wise.”
Harrison said the new website, KeepMyAHCCCS.com, includes a simple screening tool to help users determine whether the new rules apply to them.
“It will tell you if you likely will be subject to work requirements. And then it also will help you screen if you have a potential exemption,” Harrison said.
Harrison said impacted Arizonans still have a few months to prepare before the changes take effect.
“The purpose of this site is to get information out early so that people can start thinking about and planning for how they can maintain their coverage,” Harrison said. “Help is available.”
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