AHCCCS Housing and Health Opportunities (H2O) Demonstration

The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) is requesting an amendment to the 1115 Research and Demonstration Waiver to seek waiver and expenditure authority to implement the AHCCCS Housing and Health Opportunities (H2O) demonstration. The goal of the AHCCCS H2O demonstration is to enhance and expand housing services and interventions for AHCCCS members who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Under this demonstration proposal, the agency will seek to:

  • Increase positive health and wellbeing outcomes for target populations including the stabilization of members’ mental health conditions, reduction in substance use, improvement in the utilization of primary care and prevention services, and increased member satisfaction,
  • Reduce the cost of care for individuals successfully housed through decreased utilization of crisis services, emergency department utilization, and inpatient hospitalization, and
  • Reduce homelessness and improve skills to maintain housing stability.

The AHCCCS H2O demonstration targets individuals who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness and who have at least one or more of the following conditions or circumstances:

  • Individuals with a Serious Mental Illness (SMI) designation or in need of behavioral health and/or substance use treatment,
  • Individuals determined high risk or high cost based on service utilization or health history,
  • Individuals with repeated avoidable emergency department visits or crisis utilization,
  • Individuals who are pregnant,
  • Individuals with chronic health conditions and/or co-morbid conditions (e.g., end-stage renal disease, cirrhosis of the liver, HIV/AIDS, co-occurring mental health conditions, physical health conditions, and/or substance use disorder),
  • Individuals at high risk of experiencing homelessness upon release from an institutional setting (e.g., Institutions for Mental Disease/IMDs, psychiatric inpatient hospitals, correctional facility),
  • Young adults ages 18 through 24 who have aged out of the foster care system, and
  • Individuals in the Arizona Long Term Care System (ALTCS) who are medically able to reside in their own home and require affordable housing in order to transition from an institutional setting.

AHCCCS will present the details about AHCCCS Housing and Health Opportunities (H2O) demonstration proposal at two virtual public forum meetings on March 31, 2021 and April 8, 2021 and will conduct a virtual Tribal Consultation meeting on April 5, 2021. In addition, AHCCCS H2O demonstration proposal will be presented at the State Medicaid Advisory Committee (SMAC) meeting on April 14, 2021. Details regarding the public forum meetings, including TC and SMAC, can be found below

Public Forum Meeting Meeting Dates & Times Meeting Web Link & Call-in Information
Public Forum #1 Date: March 31, 2021
Time: 1:00-3:00 pm MST
Meeting link: https://ahcccs.zoom.us/s/89469967126?pwd=Q2FmOUtBZVA4UjVHcjViZUdEVmxRdz09

Passcode: AHCCCS2!

Call-in numbers: +1 408 638 0968 or
+1 669 900 6833 or
+1 253 215 8782 or
+1 346 248 7799 or
+1 646 876 9923 or
+1 301 715 8592 or
+1 312 626 6799 or
877 853 5257 (Toll Free) or
888 475 4499 (Toll Free) or
833 548 0276 (Toll Free) or
833 548 0282 (Toll Free)

Webinar ID: 894 6996 7126
Passcode: 65647117
Public Forum #2 Date: April 8, 2021
Time: 2:00-4:00 pm MST
Meeting link: https://ahcccs.zoom.us/j/88263070979?pwd=bmdFcHlkWjE1UFNabDE3WkF1dWU1UT09

Passcode: AHCCCS2!

Call-in numbers: +1 346 248 7799 or
+1 408 638 0968 or
+1 669 900 6833 or
+1 253 215 8782 or
+1 312 626 6799 or
+1 646 876 9923 or
+1 301 715 8592 or
833 548 0282 (Toll Free) or
877 853 5257 (Toll Free) or
888 475 4499 (Toll Free) or
833 548 0276 (Toll Free)

Webinar ID: 882 6307 0979
Passcode: 10613032
Special Tribal Consultation Date: April 5, 2021
Time: 12:00 pm-2:00 pm MST
Meeting Registration link: https://ahcccs.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_NgCnjmcJQ2Wd01kHq0lsbA

Call-in numbers: +1 346 248 7799 or
+1 408 638 0968 or
+1 669 900 6833 or
+1 253 215 8782 or
+1 312 626 6799 or
+1 646 876 9923 or
+1 301 715 8592 or
833 548 0282 (Toll Free) or
877 853 5257 (Toll Free) or
888 475 4499 (Toll Free) or
833 548 0276 (Toll Free)

Webinar ID: 854 1196 6314
Passcode: 77045474
State Medicaid Advisory Committee (SMAC) Meeting Date: April 14, 2021
Time: 1:00-3:00 pm MST
Meeting link: https://ahcccs.zoom.us/s/89849751173?pwd=b2xKVEN0elo4eVo0eHlFQU4yK1hMQT09

Passcode: SMAC2021!

Call-in numbers: 833 548 0282 (Toll Free) or
877 853 5257 (Toll Free)

Webinar ID: 898 4975 1173
Passcode: 156227777

The following documents have been submitted to CMS in accordance with the Special Terms and Conditions of Arizona's 1115 Demonstration Waiver. The Housing and Health Opportunities Protocol submitted to CMS on April 12th, 2023 is subject to CMS approval and may be changed dependent on CMS feedback.

Protocol for Assessment of Beneficiary Eligibility and Needs, Infrastructure Planning, and Provider Qualifications for H2O Services

Housing and Health Opportunities (H2O) Implementation Plan

The public will have the opportunity to review and submit comments on the proposal at the public meetings and in writing via e-mail to waiverpublicinput@azahcccs.gov or mail to:

AHCCCS
c/o Division of Community Advocacy and Intergovernmental Relations
801 E. Jefferson Street, MD 4200
Phoenix, AZ 85034

Public comments will be accepted through May 3, 2021.