Senate committee gives due-pass recommendation to HB 2177 to restore Medicaid payments at tribal facilities

An Arizona Senate committee voted 6–0, with one member not voting, to give House Bill 2177 a due-pass recommendation after a brief presentation and limited questions.

Tatum, the bill presenter, told the panel that HB 2177 "requires the director" to apply by March 30 each year for a Section 1115 Medicaid waiver through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to authorize Medicaid payments for certain services delivered to American Indian and Alaska Native members through Indian Health Service or tribal 638 facilities that were eliminated or reduced during or after September 2010. "With that, I'm happy to answer any questions," Tatum said.

Committee members asked only brief clarifying questions. One member described it as "a good bill." When asked whether the measure covered tribal ancestors, Tatum responded, "This is forward looking," indicating the bill addresses future eligibility and payments rather than retroactive coverage.

The chair asked whether there were speakers for or against the bill; the chair noted Damien Carpenter and James Roth as potential witnesses but no one took the floor during the hearing. A member moved that HB 2177 receive a due-pass recommendation; the committee conducted a roll-call vote and the clerk announced the result as six yes, zero no, and one not voting.

The committee advanced House Bill 2177 with a due-pass recommendation and adjourned the session with no further business recorded.