Policy frames the possible. What our State Legislature passes – or doesn’t pass – can have a significant influence on our potential to live well in Arizona. When it comes to health, here are some bills to watch:

• HB2324 would create a voluntary certification process for Community Health Workers (CHWs). Such certification would create the possibility for health plans and hospitals to have more consistency for the CHW services many now provide. At its core, the bill helps to ensure community health workers’ as an important link between many communities and people’s access to the right care, in the right place, at the right time.
• SB1245 would help Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program enrollees “double” their purchasing power for locally-grown fruits and vegetables. It’s an all-around winner: healthier food for families; more food dollars in the local economy; and the opportunity for Arizona farmers to continue to grow their sales and profits.
• HB2197 would start the process of creating a statewide healthcare workforce database – which is crucial in order for Arizona to better provide adequate care resources and improve health.
• HB2127 would eliminate Arizona’s obligation to freeze KidsCare (our Children’s Health Insurance Program) when federal funding decreases in FY2020. Arizona has seen the ill effects of such a freeze before, and we do not want children, their families, and our health care systems to suffer that way again.

There are several other bills that will make their impact on community health and well-being. Be alert. Be informed. Visit azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview for the latest updates on the calendar, agendas and each bill’s current status.