HB2863 Summary

• Establishes a behavioral health care provider loan repayment program through the Department of Health Services to pay off educational loans for behavioral health professionals, nurses, physicians, psychiatrists, and psychologists working in state hospitals and behavioral health facilities, with maximum repayment of $50,000 for the first two years of service and $25,000 for subsequent years.

• Creates the Arizona Health Innovation Trust Fund as a permanent endowment with 4% annual distributions to a qualified charitable organization that provides entrepreneurial education, mentoring, workforce development, and support for health innovation businesses employing fewer than 100 employees in Arizona.

• Establishes a three-year competitive grant program administered by the Department of Administration to provide interoperability software technology solutions for rural hospitals, health care providers, and urban trauma centers to improve patient care coordination and reduce transportation costs, with the first grant awarded by December 31, 2022.

• Adds chiropractic services as a covered health and medical service under AHCCCS with prior authorization requirements and limits up to 20 annual visits, subject to federal approval.

• Extends postpartum coverage eligibility under AHCCCS for women less than one year postpartum earning up to 133% of federal poverty level, contingent on federal authorization by July 1, 2023.