This bill proposes to amend current statutes by adding a new section to Title 13, Chapter 37 of the Arizona Revised Statutes, specifically addressing the maintenance of medical records related to behavioral health services. The new language defines "failure to maintain adequate records" as a violation if the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) determines that a person has engaged in fraud, refers the case to a criminal justice agency, and the individual either fails to maintain necessary records or fails to report the destruction of such records when submitting claims or receiving payments for behavioral health services.

Additionally, the bill establishes penalties for these violations, classifying the failure to maintain records as a class 1 misdemeanor and the failure to report destruction of records as a class 2 misdemeanor. It also clarifies that "behavioral health services" will have the same definition as provided in existing statutes governing health care institutions. Overall, the bill aims to enhance accountability and compliance in the management of behavioral health service records.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 32-1236, 32-1276.02, 32-1281, 32-1287, 32-1297.06, 32-4301, 36-2606, 32-1298, 32-1291.01, 32-1289.01
House Engrossed Version: 32-1281
Senate Engrossed Version: 13-3733
Chaptered Version: 13-3733