Phoenix, Arizona — The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) has been awarded the 2024 National Association of Medicaid Directors (NAMD) Spotlight Award for its outstanding achievement in member communication strategies during the post-pandemic enrollment redetermination period, also known as the continuous coverage unwinding.
AHCCCS demonstrated exceptional success in keeping qualified members enrolled in the program, highlighted by consistently high average auto-renewal rates in the 70th percentile. This achievement significantly reduced paperwork burden for both members and staff while ensuring continuous coverage for Arizona's most vulnerable populations.
"Our North Star has always been to reach every member through whatever means necessary," said Director Heredia. "If there was an option to connect with our members, we explored it. This wasn't just about sending notices – it was about creating a comprehensive communication ecosystem that left no stone unturned in our effort to maintain coverage for qualified Arizonans."
"Arizona Medicaid's superpower is their incredibly committed team," said NAMD Executive Director Kate McEvoy. "The agency staff pursued every avenue when it came to member communication. With expansive thinking and an eye toward future applications, Arizona deployed technology solutions that will continue to serve the program and Arizonans successfully."
The agency's multi-channel communication strategy included:
The success of these initiatives is reflected in the numbers: AHCCCS successfully renewed coverage for 76% of its members, representing 1.9 million Arizonans who maintained their health coverage during this critical transition period.
The NAMD Spotlight Award recognizes exceptional leadership and innovation in Medicaid administration, particularly during the challenging transition period following the public health emergency. AHCCCS's winning approach demonstrated excellence in member engagement, innovative communication strategies, and technology solutions that prioritized long-term operational efficiency through scalable, future-ready design.
