700 E. Jefferson Street, Suite 100 Phoenix, AZ (602)

Transcription

1 700 E. Jefferson Street, Suite 100 Phoenix, AZ (602)

2 AACHC LEGISLATIVE RECEPTION- TALKING WITH YOUR LEGISLATORS Presented by: Tara McCollum Plese Sr. Director for External Affairs

3 AACHC 2015 LEGISLATIVE AGENDA Protect Medicaid Expansion! Enhance the State Loan Repayment Program HB2495/SB1194 Medically Underserved areas; loan repayment Access to Oral Health SB1282 teledentistry; dental hygienists; dental assistants

4 TALKING POINTS FOR PROTECTING THE MEDICAID EXPANSION The value to your health center, patients, and community Compare the payer mix today to when there was a freeze on Medicaid A large portion of your health centers payer mix Health Centers serve 1 out of every 5 AHCCCS enrollees Critical to the delivery of health care services in rural areas Important for the continuity of care for your patients Allows them to move from primary care to specialty care and hospitalization if and when the need arises

5 State Loan Repayment Program - HB2495/SB1194 The Legislation Will: Expand eligibility to additional primary health care professionals such as behavioral health, geriatrics, and pharmacists (Primary Care Providers in the field of Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, OB/GYN and Pediatrics: Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, Certified Nurse Midwives, Physician Assistants and Dentists are currently eligible) Increase the loan repayment incentives with priority and higher funding levels given to rural providers Increase the maximum award amounts providers are eligible to receive Eliminate the program participation service cap of 4 years allowing qualified providers to continue to participate as long as providers have qualifying loans and providing service in an underserved area of the State

6 State Loan Repayment Program TALKING POINTS Need for primary care providers in your health center and your community A capacity issue Greater demand = need for more providers Challenges of serving rural communities Loan repayment is an important tool for recruiting qualified providers

7 Oral Health Omnibus Bill SB1282 The Legislation Will: Comprehensive Access to Oral Health Legislation Takes an oral health care systems approach to the delivery of care Creates Expanded Function Dental Assistants (EFDA) in Arizona Addresses current regulatory restrictions on the application of sealants in dental public health programs Re-writes the Affiliated Practice Dental Hygiene Statute to make it more workable Ability to utilize enhanced dental teams to have an economically sustainable program to deliver care in remote settings and nursing homes Statutory recognition of Teledentistry to virtually connect Team members and allows for reimbursement for these services under AHCCCS and insurance plans Provides new and expanding practice opportunities for dentists and their team members

8 Oral Health Omnibus Bill TALKING POINTS It has been jointly drafted and supported by the Arizona Dental Association and the Arizona State Dental Hygienists Association Priorities identified by Senator Bradley s task force Improves access to oral health care. Reduces costs for patients and health centers Oral Health is critical to our patients overall health and wellness. Integrating oral health and primary care services is key to comprehensive health care Fits the health center team approach to patient centered services

9 Engage with your Legislators Remember Be gracious!! Make it about the communities they represent and the people they serve Share something you may have in common with the Legislator Do you know someone they know? Local landmarks, local restaurants, hangouts, local sports teams? Offer to follow up with additional information Thank them for attending the reception and invite them to your health center

10 Follow up! Send an thanking them for attending the reception Invite them to visit your health center Offer additional information if needed Sign up for the Request to Speak at the Capitol Contact Erika Martinez, Grassroots Advocate Sign up for Legislative Updates and Legislative Alerts or

11 QUESTIONS???

12 Tara McCollum Plese Sr. Director for External Affairs Arizona Alliance for Community Health Centers 700 E. Jefferson St. Suite 100 Phoenix, AZ Phone: