If enacted, this bill would update current statutes by appropriating specific funds for the Arizona Long Term Care System (ALTCS) to support rate increases for assisted living centers and skilled nursing facilities. The bill would insert new language that specifies the appropriation of $13,592,216 from the state general fund and $63,331,829 from expenditure authority to the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) for fiscal year 2025-2026. Additionally, it would allocate $821,989 from the state general fund and $1,504,001 in developmental disabilities Medicaid expenditure authority to the Department of Economic Security (DES) for the same purpose.
Furthermore, the bill would include a provision that exempts these appropriations from lapsing under section 35-190 of the Arizona Revised Statutes, which typically governs the expiration of unspent appropriations. This change aims to ensure that the allocated funds remain available for their intended use without the risk of being lost at the end of the fiscal year. Overall, the bill seeks to enhance funding for essential services within the ALTCS framework.