State Capitol, Phoenix – Arizona State Representative Julie Willoughby and State Senator Janae Shamp are calling on the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) and the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) to reconsider their upcoming disability assessment policies. The changes, which are set to be implemented on October 1, have caused concern among families and service providers who believe they could negatively impact vulnerable individuals in Arizona.
Representative Willoughby and Senator Shamp recently engaged with parents, self-advocates, and direct care workers who expressed dissatisfaction with the limited opportunities for discussion or improvement provided by agency officials. “Families are desperate to be heard,” said Representative Willoughby. “The deadline is coming fast, and this new assessment tool is not evidence-based, as all health care should be. We’re talking about decisions that directly affect vulnerable Arizonans and their families, and yet those voices were left out.”
Senator Shamp added, “We hear the voices of self-advocates, parents, and direct care workers loud and clear. Lives are at stake, and we must act now to ensure our disability support system functions for the best possible outcomes.”
Community members informed the lawmakers that the new assessment model could place additional burdens on families, healthcare providers, and state systems already struggling to meet demand. They emphasized that habilitation services should remain skill-based rather than age-based to prevent lifelong setbacks for children that could lead to increased costs for the state.
Willoughby was elected as a Republican representative in 2022 for Arizona’s 13th House District. Both lawmakers stressed the importance of pausing these policy changes to collaborate with families and providers in developing a more effective approach. “Creating this tool is a huge responsibility,” they said, urging DES and AHCCCS to include individuals with real-life experiences in discussions.
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