Arizona legislation to better regulate rehab programs targeted by Medicaid scams is moving forward

PHOENIX (AP) — A Navajo state senator said Friday she’s hoping for final approval of her bill to tighten regulations for rehab facilities amid widespread fraud that has bilked hundreds of millions in Arizona Medicaid dollars and scammed hundreds of Native Americans seeking help for addictions.

Senate Bill 1655, sponsored by Sen. Theresa Hatathlie, was unanimously approved by the Senate this week and sent to the House, where it received a first reading and was assigned to the Health and Human Services Committee.

Hathalie said she anticipates a vote by the full House could come as soon as Thursday, adding that she urges constituents to voice their support for the legislation.

“This bill will ensure checks and balances. This issue has been going on long before the pandemic, and Native people have been largely affected,” said Hatathlie, a Democrat from Coal Mine Mesa on the Navajo Nation who represents Arizona’s 6th District. “Passage of Senate Bill 1655 will start a measure of resiliency and healing. It will most importantly communicate to criminals they are not welcome in Arizona!”

The legislative effort comes the same week that relatives of two Native American men who died while in Phoenix rehab programs sued Arizona’s Medicaid program and Department of Health Services, alleging insufficient oversight.

<bsp-list-loadmore data-module="" class=«PageListStandardB» data-gtm-region=«READ MORE» data-gtm-topic=«No Value» data-show-loadmore=«true» data-gtm-modulestyle=«List B»> <bsp-custom-headline custom-headline=«div»> READ MORE </bsp-custom-headline> <bsp-custom-headline custom-headline=«div»> Judge mulls third contempt case against Arizona for failing to improve prison health care </bsp-custom-headline> <bsp-custom-headline