Guiding Documents

• CMS Health Equity Fact Sheet
• NCQA Resources

AHCCCS Health Equity Committee

Formally established in July 2020, the Health Equity Committee is tasked with understanding health disparities and developing strategies to ensure health equity for all AHCCCS members. The committee is responsible for overseeing and managing health equity considerations as they relate to policy, data, health plan oversight and emerging health care innovation strategies for over 2 million Arizonans. This committee is responsible for identifying health disparities among AHCCCS-eligible individuals and members by using AHCCCS utilization and quality improvement data to advance policy and/or contracting strategies to improve the health equity of AHCCCS’ populations and programs. This committee will communicate existing health equity strategies currently being implemented by the agency, identify needed improvements to existing strategies (if appropriate), develop and/or evaluate key metrics, and articulate future interventions aimed at eliminating health disparities. Committee Goals:

• Understand health disparities among AHCCCS members.
• Effectuate policy changes and support the implementation of strategies for positive improvement where known disparities exist, creating opportunities for the more equitable provision of services and supports.
• Raise the visibility of AHCCCS’ commitment to health equity and the strategies in place to ensure the equitable provision of services and supports.
• Improve health outcomes for AHCCCS members.
• Identify challenges and barriers that AHCCCS members have in accessing covered services