Arizona

Find more information about Community Catalyst projects in Arizona.

Glossary of Terms

OVERVIEW:  Arizona law contains no free care requirements.  The law contains meager reporting requirements for hospitals that provide “indigent care,” a term that it does not define.  Most notably, it allows counties and medical providers—including hospitals—to place liens for debt incurred as a result of medical care and treatment.   

CITATION:
Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (see “Other”)
Arizona Revised Statutes §§ 36-2901.01 to 36-2930. 

Medical Facilities and Care of Indigents
Arizona Revised Statutes §§ 11-291 to 11-303

Licensing - Patient Rights
Ariz. Admin. Code § R9-10-209

TERMINOLOGY:
Indigent care

REGULATORY OVERSIGHT:
Each county’s Board of Supervisors (hereinafter “the Board”) may provide for the hospitalization and medical care of the sick in their respective counties.  Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 11-291(A).

DEFINITIONS AND DISTINCTIONS: N/A

FREE CARE AS A COMMUNITY BENEFIT:
“Community benefit activity” is defined as “as any activity furthering community benefit purposes including…indigent care or any other charitable purpose.”  Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 10-11251(2).

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS: N/A

FINANCING SOURCE:
As of October 1, 2001, a portion of the Tobacco Settlement Agreement is used to fund indigent health care services.  Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 11-300(B).

SERVICES COVERED: N/A

NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: N/A

APPLICATION PROCESS: N/A

GRIEVANCE/APPEAL PROCESS: N/A

REPORTING REQUIREMENTS:
Hospital administrators must keep a record of the names, dates of admission and discharge or death, and disease of anyone receiving indigent care and must file this record quarterly with the Board of County Supervisors.  Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 11-296.

PENALTIES FOR NONCOMPLIANCE: N/A

OTHER:
The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System.  The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (hereinafter “AHCCCS”) includes several programs that are available to low-income, uninsured state residents who are not eligible for Medicare or traditional Medicaid. Services covered by AHCCCS include preventive services and treatment for catastrophic illness or injury.  Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 36-774(A).  Seventy cents of every dollar in the Tobacco Tax and Health Care Fund is placed in the state’s medically needy account to provide health care services to individuals who are eligible for participation in AHCCCS or successor programs.  Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 36-774(A). 

Notification of hospital rates and charges.  As a condition for licensure, hospital administrators must require that patients or their representatives be informed of how to obtain a schedule of hospital rates and charges as required by Section 36-436.01 of the Arizona Revised Statutes.  Ariz. Admin. Code § R9-10-209.

Hospital liens allowed.  Counties and health care providers, including hospitals, are entitled to liens to cover care, treatment, and transportation for injured persons.  Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 33-931(A)-(B).  With few exceptions, these lien entitlements apply to hospitals’ customary charges, rather than costs, for providing care.  Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 33-931(C). The lien may be taken against the patient or against the patient’s legal representative.  Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 11-291(E).