SB 1609
Initials AG/KT Page 1 Health & Human Services
ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Fifty-sixth Legislature
Second Regular Session
Senate: HHS DPA/SE 7-0-0-0 | 3
rd
Read 26-0-4-0
SB 1609: behavioral health; AHCCCS; health facilities
Sponsor: Senator Wadsack, LD 17
Committee on Health & Human Services
Overview
Requires health care institutions when transferring or discharging a patient with a serious
mental illness (SMI) to another health care institution to provide the patient a 30-day supply
of all medications that the patient was given in the previous 10 days. Outlines requirements
of the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System Administration (AHCCCS) related to
peer specialist oversight and services for SMI individuals.
History
SMI are persons, who as a result of a mental disorder, exhibit emotional or behavioral
functioning that is so impaired as to interfere substantially with their capacity to remain in
the community without supportive treatment or services of a long-term or indefinite
duration. In these persons mental disability is severe and persistent, resulting in a long-term
limitation of their functional capacities for primary activities of daily living such as
interpersonal relationships, homemaking, self-care, employment and recreation (A.R.S. § 36-
550).
The AHCCCS Director must make rules that include standards for agencies other than the
Arizona State Hospital (ASH) when providing services and must prescribe forms as necessary
for the proper administration and enforcement as it relates to mental health services. The
AHCCCS Director must make rules concerning the admission of patients and the transfer of
patients between mental health treatment agencies other than ASH. A patient undergoing
court-ordered treatment may be transferred from one mental health treatment agency to
another in accordance with the rules of the director, subject to court approval (A.R.S. § 36-
502).
Provisions
1. Requires, if a patient with a SMI is transferred or discharged from a health care
institution to another health care institution, residential placement or group home, the
health care institution that is transferring or discharging a patient to provide to the
patient a 30-day supply of all medications, both prescriptions and over the counter, the
patient was given in the previous 10 days that are ongoing or to be taken as needed.
(Sec. 1)
2. Specifies that each medication must include clear documented instructions that are
signed by:
a) the patient or the patient's parent or guardian;
b) the discharge team; and
c) the intake team. (Sec. 1)
☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note SB 1609
Initials AG/KT Page 2 Health & Human Services
3. Instructs AHCCCS to require its contracted housing program administrators to review
and minimize duplicative paperwork requirements for and limit the number of
contractors and entities that unnecessarily receive personal health information of
members with SMI who are receiving services. (Sec. 2)
4. Prohibits contracted housing program administrators from selling or otherwise sharing
any members' personal health information, unless authorized or required by state or
federal law, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act Privacy
Standards. (Sec. 2)
5. Directs AHCCCS to develop and implement processes to monitor its contractors' oversight
of peer specialists to ensure that the peer specialists meet qualifications and receive the
required supervision and training. (Sec. 2)
6. Requires, beginning October 1, 2025, in addition to any other qualifications, peer
specialists to complete training that is developed by AHCCCS and that includes
psychosis-specific content including anosognosia. (Sec. 2)
7. Instructs AHCCCS to provide an annual report to the Governor, the President of the
Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives on the development,
implementation and monitoring processes by November 1, 2024, and annually thereafter.
(Sec. 2)
8. Requires AHCCCS, by January 31, 2025, to study the implementation of developing and
distributing a real-time, automated survey to SMI members, or their representative to:
a) collect feedback;
b) identify quality of care issues; and
c) respond to the needs of members. (Sec. 3)
9. Specifies that in studying the implementation of the survey, AHCCCS must solicit and
consider input from the public, including at a minimum, individuals with a SMI and their
representatives. (Sec. 3)
10. Directs AHCCCS, by January 31, 2025, to report to the Joint Legislative Budget
Committee and the Chairpersons of the Health and Human Services Committees of the
Senate and House of Representatives on the development and implementation costs that
would be incurred by AHCCCS. (Sec. 3)