Senator Werner Champions Legislation to Restore Accountability in American Indian Health Program
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, February 19, 2026
PHOENIX, ARIZONA— Senator Carine Werner is continuing her efforts to bring meaningful legislative reforms to Arizona's administration of the American Indian Health Plan. SB 1611 was developed after extensive stakeholder meetings and AHCCCS oversight hearings led by the Senate Health and Human Services Committee.
Throughout this process, lawmakers received testimony detailing inaccurate reporting, unresolved provider payment issues, and gaps in care coordination that contributed to instability for providers serving American Indian and Alaska Native members.
"What we uncovered during oversight hearings was unacceptable," said Senator Werner. "Patients lost treatment, providers went unpaid, and a system meant to deliver care instead created chaos. When failures like this cost lives, lawmakers have a duty to act. This legislation restores oversight, stability, and accountability."
Those findings shaped SB 1611, which requires AHCCCS to contract with a qualified administrative services organization to handle key program integrity and care-management functions while the state retains overall authority and oversight of the program. The legislation preserves the American Indian Health Program as a fee-for-service option and maintains federal protections guaranteeing access to tribal and Indian Health Service providers. Eligible members continue to retain full choice over how they receive coverage, while additional administrative support is intended to improve program performance and prevent fraud, waste, and care disruptions.
After passing the Senate Health and Human Services Committee last week with bipartisan support, Senator Werner has continued to hold extensive stakeholder meetings with Tribal Leaders, Indian health experts, health plans and health care providers. The direct feedback from these meetings continues to shape this policy and will ensure the reforms are thoughtful and improve the quality of health care our Native population in Arizona deserves.
"This bill and forthcoming amendments reflect what we have learned from listening," said Senator Werner. "Tribal communities deserve a system that works reliably and transparently. Not lip service and token efforts to throw money at a problem with the hopes it goes away. SB 1611 moves us toward that goal."
Under the measure, AHCCCS must consult with Tribes, present procurement plans publicly, gather and respond to feedback from Tribes, lawmakers and stakeholders, and update legislature before finalizing contracts, adding transparency while keeping contract authority with the agency itself.
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For more information, contact:
Kim Quintero
Director of Communications | Arizona State Senate Republican Caucus