AHCCCS Renewal Letters

/in /by

 

Important Update for AHCCCS Members

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) ensured that members continued to receive coverage. AHCCCS did not require members to renew their coverage and did not disenroll members during the COVID-19 National Public Health Emergency.

AHCCCS is preparing for the end of the public health emergency by sending members Medical Assistance Renewal letters. Click here to view a sample Medical Assistance Renewal letter. Instructions in the letter direct AHCCCS members to complete their renewal by a specific due date, actions needed to renew coverage, and the proof required to continue coverage. Members that do not complete the process will no longer receive benefits when the COVID-19 National Public Health Emergency ends.

While the instructions included in letters received by members indicate the renewal process can be completed through their Health e-Arizona Plus account, AHCCCS members may also reach out to Cover Arizona for assistance. Cover Arizona provides no-cost help from trained Health Application Assisters. Members can call 1-800-377-3565 or visit www.coveraz.org to schedule an appointment with an Assister. Bilingual Assisters are available if the AHCCCS member prefers Spanish. All Assisters are familiar with the AHCCCS renewal process and can help over the phone or face to face.

Questions?

Reach out to Meghanne Bearden, Director of Public Policy at mbearden@wildfire.org.

NEWS RELEASE

/in /by


GOVERNOR DUCEY URGED TO EXTEND EVICTION MORATORIUM FOR RENTERS IMPACTED BY COVID-19
26 Arizona Nonprofits Join Wildfire In Requesting the Extension

PHOENIX, Ariz. (July 10, 2020): In a letter from Wildfire Executive Director Cynthia Zwick and supported by 26 Arizona nonprofit organizations, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey was urged to extend the moratorium on evictions through Dec. 30 for renters impacted by COVID-19 that is set to expire on July 23.

“More time is needed to connect the renters with the support,” Zwick wrote. “Aligning Arizona’s eviction moratorium with the C.A.R.E.S. Act deadline of December 30, 2020 provides agencies more time to get critical funding to those in need. Data shows that as a result of COVID-19 over 20 percent of Arizonans are housing insecure because they missed last month’s rent or mortgage payment.”

Zwick wrote that the Department of Housing has received more than 16,000 requests for help from the COVID-19 Rental Assistance Program, but as of July 6, only 1,136 had been approved statewide.

“The City of Phoenix has released $20 million to aid families affected by the crisis, and Maricopa County has made $30 million available to assist. Additional funds are also being released throughout the state,” Zwick wrote. “Agencies will need more time to prevent an avalanche of pending eviction notices. Allowing Executive Order 2020-14 to expire will only result in more Arizonans becoming housing insecure.”

In addition to providing relief to tenants, “but also for landlords,” the letter said. “Extending Executive Order 2020-14 provides relief to these small landlords so that they may receive rent owed by their tenants.

“The federal timeline for spending C.A.R.E.S. Act funding allows for assistance through December 30, 2020. Extending E.O. 2020-14 allows Community Action Agencies and nonprofits throughout Arizona to continue supporting Arizonans in dire need of housing assistance,” Zwick wrote.

Organizations supporting the request were: Arizona Center for Economic Progress, Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence, Arizona Council of Human Service Providers, Arizona Family Health Partnership, Arizona Peer and Family Coalition, Campesinos Sin Fronteras,Central Arizonans for a Sustainable Economy, City of Phoenix, Children’s Action Alliance, Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona, Garcia Family Foundation, Glendale Community Action Program, Human Services Campus, Mi Familia Vota, NACOG, NAMI Yavapai, NASW Arizona, Phoenix Community Alliance, Poder in Action, Primavera Foundation, Promise Arizona, Step Up to Justice, United Food & Commercial Workers Local 99, UMOM New Day Centers, Vitalyst Health Foundation, and WHEAT (World Hunger Education, Advocacy & Training).

For more information about Wildfire, visit wildfireaz.org.

About Wildfire: Wildfire is a growing movement to end poverty. We advocate for fair practices. We collaborate on policy issues. We support community action initiatives. Beyond easing the effects of poverty, our efforts aim to ignite lasting change: to stop poverty before it starts. This is advocacy in action for an Arizona where all may thrive. For more information visit wildfireaz.org.

Contacts:
• Cynthia Zwick, Executive Director, Wildfire, (602) 604-0640
• Steve Carr, The Kur Carr Group, Inc., (602) 317-3040

Policy Updates

/in /by

 

Federal Updates

H.R.6074 Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act
Congress passed H.R. 6074 and was signed by President Trump on March 6. The legislation provided $8.3 billion in all new funding for a robust response to the COVID19, including support for state and local health agencies, vaccine and treatment development, and loans for affected small businesses to lessen the economic blow of this public health emergency.

Read the Coronavirus Supplemental Fact Sheet prepared by the Democratic staff of the House Appropriations Committee.

 

H.R. 6201 Families First Coronavirus Response Act
Congress passed H.R. 6201 and was signed by President Trump on March 18. Key provisions included paid sick leave, insurance coverage of coronavirus testing, nutrition assistance, and unemployment benefits. Kaiser Health News provided a summary in addition to more information on the available funding.

Read the Families First Coronavirus Response Act Fact Sheet prepared by the Democratic staff of the House Appropriations Committee.

 

H.R. 748 Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (C.A.R.E.S.) Act
Congress passed H.R. 748 and was signed by President Trump on March 27. Key provisions included new resources to help strained state, local, and tribal governments as they combat this pandemic; researching treatments and vaccines; support for small businesses; support for local schools and universities; and funding for affordable housing and homelessness assistance programs. Kaiser Health News provided an in-depth summary, including a breakdown of the $340 billion in new funding.

Read the C.A.R.E.S Act Fact Sheet prepared by the Democratic staff of the House Appropriations Committee.

 

H.R. 266 Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act
Congress passed H.R. 266 and was signed by President Trump on April 24. Also known as the “COVID-19 3.5” relief package, H.R. 266 was originally designed to only be a stopgap measure. The package includes additional funding to support small businesses, hospitals, and enhance COVID-19 testing.

Read the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act Fact Sheet prepared by the Democratic staff of the House Appropriations Committee.

 

State Updates

Stay Home, Stay Healthy, Stay Connected
Governor Ducey issued an Executive Order extending Arizona’s Stay Home, Stay Healthy, Stay Connected Order until May 15, 2020. The order also continues Arizona’s gradual economic reopening, allowing retail businesses to begin partial operations starting next week. Under the order, retail businesses currently not operating can begin curbside pick-up on Monday, May 4, followed by expanded in-person operations on Friday, May 8 as long as they implement social distancing and sanitation measures established by the United States Department of Labor or the Arizona Department of Health Services. Learn more about Governor Ducey’s Return Stronger: A Gradual Step-By-Step Plan For Reenergizing Arizona.

 

JLBC’s Federal Coronavirus Response Legislation Program Summary
Earlier this week the JLBC released a preliminary estimate that Arizona will receive $4.6 billion in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds will be distributed between state and local governments. Slightly more than half of that money will be distributed to the state, Maricopa and Pima counties and the cities of Phoenix, Mesa and Tucson through the Coronavirus Relief Fund. More information to follow as Congress is expected to pass another supplemental appropriations package.

 

Arizona State Legislature
Wildfire tracked over 30 bills this session but changed course when it became clear that the Legislature planned to pass a “skinny” budget amid the uncertainty of COVID-19. The Legislature passed an $11.8 billion contingency budget, including a $50 million relief fund package in response to COVID-19. Click here to view the Wildfire 2020 Tracking Sheet. The Legislature recessed following the passage of the contingency budget. More information to follow when they reconvene to adjourn sine die.

Questions?

Reach out to Meghanne Bearden, Director of Public Policy at mbearden@wildfire.org.