AHCCCS; eligibility; verification; SNAP; contractors

Mandates that all public benefit applicants must have their eligibility verified using documentary evidence or trusted electronic data sources before approval, explicitly prohibiting self-attestation unless required by federal law.

Requires the Department of Economic Security and the Health Care Cost Containment System to jointly operate a unified eligibility rules engine that performs real-time verification and tracks risk events.

Requires contractors to reimburse healthcare providers at or above rates on a published fixed benefit price list and mandates that members receive itemized explanations of benefits after every service.

Establishes an automatic system where conflicting data immediately places applications in pending status or terminates benefits, and mandates immediate termination for any employee found to willfully ignore verification rules.

Mandates quarterly reporting to the joint legislative audit committee on eligibility denials, data conflicts, and improper payments, along with confidential briefings for the Auditor General based on audit logs.

Creates new statutory sections defining 'Health Benefit Purchasing Organizations' (such as retailers or cooperatives) and requires them to be licensed, demonstrate solvency, and adhere to fixed benefit pricing.