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HB2051 • 2026

AHCCCS; lactation care; breastfeeding

HB2051 - AHCCCS; lactation care; breastfeeding

Budget Children Crime Healthcare Technology
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Lisa Fink
Last action
2026-02-25
Official status
Senate second read
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details about the renewal process or criteria for denying, suspending, or revoking certification.

AHCCCS; lactation care; breastfeeding

This bill requires AHCCCS contractors to provide breastfeeding and lactation care services after CMS approval, establishes a voluntary state certification for lactation care providers under DHS, and creates an advisory committee.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires AHCCCS contractors to offer breastfeeding and lactation care services after getting approval from the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
  • Establishes a voluntary state certification program for lactation care providers (LCPs) under the Department of Health Services.
  • Creates an LCP Community Advisory Committee to provide guidance on lactation care issues.

Who It Names or Affects

  • AHCCCS contractors who must offer breastfeeding and lactation care services.
  • Lactation care providers seeking state certification.
  • AHCCCS members eligible for these new services.

Terms To Know

Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS)
A program that provides health insurance to people who cannot afford it in Arizona.
Lactation care provider (LCP)
A person trained and certified to provide support for breastfeeding mothers.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill requires CMS approval before AHCCCS contractors can offer new services.
  • There may be a fiscal impact if expanding coverage increases costs or changes revenue from certification fees.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

Plain English: Adopted 1

  • The official amendment file could not be read automatically during the last sync, so only the official amendment metadata is shown right now.

Plain English: Fifty-seventh Legislature Health & Human Services Second Regular Session H.B.

  • Fifty-seventh Legislature Health & Human Services Second Regular Session H.B.
  • 2051 PROPOSED HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AMENDMENTS TO H.B.
  • 2051 (Reference to printed bill) The bill as proposed to be amended is reprinted as follows: 1 Section 1.
  • Section 36-2907, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to 2 read: 3 36-2907.
  • This amendment summary is using official source text because generated interpretation was skipped for this run.

Plain English: Fifty-seventh Legislature Appropriations, Transportation and Technology Second Regular Session H.B.

  • Fifty-seventh Legislature Appropriations, Transportation and Technology Second Regular Session H.B.
  • 2051 COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS, TRANSPORTATION AND TECHNOLOGY SENATE AMENDMENTS TO H.B.
  • 2051 (Reference to House engrossed bill) The bill as proposed to be amended is reprinted as follows: 1 <<Section 1.
  • Section 36-414, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended 2 to read: 3 36-414.
  • This amendment summary is using official source text because generated interpretation was skipped for this run.

Plain English: Fifty-seventh Legislature Appropriations, Transportation and Technology Second Regular Session H.B.

  • Fifty-seventh Legislature Appropriations, Transportation and Technology Second Regular Session H.B.
  • 2051 PROPOSED SENATE AMENDMENTS TO H.B.
  • 2051 (Reference to House engrossed bill) The bill as proposed to be amended is reprinted as follows: 1 <<Section 1.
  • Section 36-414, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended 2 to read: 3 36-414.
  • This amendment summary is using official source text because generated interpretation was skipped for this run.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-25 Senate

    Senate second read

  2. 2026-02-24 Senate

    Senate Rules: None

  3. 2026-02-24 Senate

    Senate Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency: DP

  4. 2026-02-24 Senate

    Senate Appropriations, Transportation and Technology: DPA

  5. 2026-02-24 Senate

    Senate first read

  6. 2026-02-17 Senate

    Transmitted to Senate

  7. 2026-02-17 House

    House third read passed

  8. 2026-02-05 House

    House committee of the whole

  9. 2026-02-03 House

    House minority caucus

  10. 2026-02-03 House

    House majority caucus

  11. 2026-01-13 House

    House second read

  12. 2026-01-12 House

    House Rules: C&P

  13. 2026-01-12 House

    House Health & Human Services: DPA

  14. 2026-01-12 House

    House first read

Official Summary Text

HB2051 - 572R - Senate Fact Sheet

Assigned to
RAGE
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PASSED BY COMMITTEE

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Fifty-Seventh
Legislature, Second Regular Session

AMENDED

FACT SHEET FOR
H.B. 2051

AHCCCS;
lactation care; breastfeeding

Purpose

Requires contractors with the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System
(AHCCCS), subject to approval by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services (CMS), to provide breastfeeding and lactation care services to
members. Establishes a voluntary state certification for a lactation care
provider (LCP) under the Department of Health Services (DHS) and an LCP
Community Advisory Committee (Advisory Committee).

Background

AHCCCS contracts with health professionals to provide medically necessary
health and medical services to eligible members. AHCCCS contractors must provide
services and supplies, including, but not limited to: 1) inpatient and
outpatient hospital services; 2) laboratory and x-ray services; 3) prescription
medications; 4) medical supplies, durable medical equipment, insulin pumps and
prosthetic devices; 5) medical treatment of eye conditions; 6) early and
periodic health screening and diagnostic services; 7) family planning services;
8) podiatry services;

9) nonexperimental transplants; 10) emergency dental care; 11) ambulance and
nonambulance transportation; 12) hospice care; 13) orthotics; 14) chiropractic
services; 15) diabetes outpatient self-management training services; and 16)
traditional healing services, as specified (
A.R.S.

� 36-2907
). According to AHCCCS, contractors providing maternity care
services must educate members about breastfeeding and direct members to
resources and programs that provide free breastfeeding support, including the
Department of Health Services Breastfeeding Hotline and the Special
Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (
AHCCCS
).

DHS is established to protect the physical and mental health of Arizona�s
children and adults. DHS's responsibilities include: 1) the licensure and
regulation of health care and child care facilities and certain health care
professionals; 2) disease control; 3) immunization education and promotion; 4)
emergency preparedness; 5) emergency medical services; 6) the state laboratory;

7) the state hospital; 8) public health statistics; 9) radiation regulatory
programs; and 10) vital records which include birth and death certificates (
A.R.S.
Title 36
).

If there is a cost associated with expanding AHCCCS coverage to include
breastfeeding and lactation care services or if there is a change in revenues
to the Health Services Licensing Fund from fees collected from the state-certification
of LCPs, there may be a fiscal impact to the state General Fund.

Provisions

AHCCCS Services

1.

Requires
AHCCCS contractors, subject to approval by CMS, to provide breastfeeding and
lactation care services, including consultations, education and counseling,
that are provided in inpatient, outpatient, home-based and group settings.

LCP Certification

2.

Allows
a person to apply to the DHS Director for an LCP certification on a form
prescribed by the DHS Director that includes information required by the DHS Director.

3.

States
that it is not required for LCPs to be certified by DHS to practice in Arizona
as an LCP.

4.

Requires the DHS Director to grant an LCP certificate to a person who:

a)

holds a current approved certification or otherwise meets minimum
qualifications, education and training requirements established by the DHS Director;

b)

is at least 18 years of age;

c)

pays the applicable fees; and

d)

possesses a valid fingerprint clearance card issued as prescribed.

5.

Requires
the DHS Director to prescribe, by rule, a sliding fee scale for all fees
required for certification of LCPs.

6.

States
that an LCP certificate is valid for two years.

7.

Requires
the certificate holder to renew the certificate once every two years by
applying to the DHS Director and paying the applicable renewal fee.

8.

Requires
a person to file an application for renewal at least 30 days and no more than 90
days before the date the current certificate expires.

Powers and
Duties of the DHS Director

9.

Requires
the DHS Director, by rule, to:

a)

outline the scope of practice and the core competencies of
state-certified LCPs, including the skills and areas of knowledge that are
essential to assist families and bring about expanded health and wellness in
diverse communities;

b)

describe and define reasonable education and training requirements for
state-certified LCPs; and

c)

establish criteria for granting, denying, suspending and revoking
state-certified LCP certificates in order to protect the public health and
safety.

10.

Allows the DHS Director to
adopt rules that:

a)

are necessary for the proper administration and enforcement of the
state-certified LCP statutes; and

b)

allow
for reciprocity agreements, including with the Indian Health Service.

11.

Requires the DHS Director to
waive the minimum education and training requirements for LCP certification for
applicants who hold a current approved certification.

Denial,
Suspension or Revocation of Certification

12.

Allows the DHS Director to deny,
suspend or revoke the certificate of any applicant for a certificate or any
state-certified LCP who:

a)

violates any provision of the state-certified LCP statutes or rule
adopted;

b)

has been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor involving moral turpitude;
or

c)

indulges
in conduct or a practice that is detrimental to the public health or safety.

13.

Allows
an applicant or state-certified LCP, after receiving notification of a denial,
suspension or revocation, to request a hearing to review the denial, suspension
or revocation.

14.

Requires
DHS, if a hearing is requested, to conduct the hearing in accordance with the uniform
administrative hearing procedures

15.

Requires
a state-certified LCP who is employed by an Indian tribe and who violates the

state-certified LCP statutes to be under tribal government jurisdiction.�

16.

Allows
the information provided to the DHS Director, if the state-certified LCP is
determined to have violated the state-certified LCP statutes, to result in the
denial, suspension or revocation of the state-certified LCP's certification.

17.

Deems
internal hearings, appeals or penalties resulting from disciplinary actions by
a tribal government to be the final decision.

�Investigations

18.

Allows
the DHS Director to investigate information that indicates a person may have
violated or may be violating the state-certified LCP statutes.

19.

Allows
the DHS Director, in connection with an investigation, to examine and copy
documents and other physical evidence, wherever located, that relate to the
conduct or competency of a state-certified LCP.

Fees

20.

Requires
the DHS Director, by rule, to establish and collect nonrefundable fees for
certification of LCPs that are consistent with fees for hearing aid dispensers,
audiologists and language pathologists.

21.

Requires
DHS to deposit all fees collected for state-certification of LCPs in a
segregated account in the
Health Services Licensing Fund
.

Advisory
Committee

22.

Establishes
Advisory Committee consisting of at least nine LCPs, no more than four of whom
hold the same approved certification, who are appointed by the DHS Director.�

23.

Sets
the term for each Advisory Committee member at two years.

24.

Requires
the DHS Director to consult with the Advisory Committee regarding implementing the
state-certified LCP statutes and the rules adopted.�

25.

Requires the Advisory Committee
to:

a)

assist in the development of the scope of practice and core competencies
for state-certified LCPs with different approved certifications; and

b)

review
rules and advise the DHS Director of any necessary updates.

Miscellaneous

26.

Prohibits
the state and any political subdivision of the state from providing a
preference in awarding a public contract for state-certified LCP services or an
entity that employs

state-certified LCPs.

27.

Defines
approved
certification
as one of the following:

a)

an international board-certified lactation consultant certification;

b)

a certified lactation counselor certification;

c)

a certified lactation educator certification;

d)

an indigenous lactation counselor certification; or

e)

any
other LCP certification from a program accredited by a nationally or
internationally recognized accrediting agency that is approved by DHS.

28.

Defines

department
as DHS.

29.

Defines

director
as the DHS Director.

30.

Defines

LCP
as a person who provides clinical or nonclinical lactation care,
education and support to families.

31.

Defines

state-certified LCP
as an LCP to whom DHS has issued a certificate to
practice as a certified LCP in Arizona.

32.

Makes
technical and conforming changes.

33.

Becomes
effective on the general effective date.

Amendments Adopted by the Committee
on Appropriations, Transportation and Technology

1.

Establishes a voluntary state certification for LCPs under DHS.

2.

Outlines state-certified LCP application, qualification, fee, rulemaking
and disciplinary requirements.

3.

Establishes the Advisory Committee consisting of at least nine LCPs, no
more than four of whom hold the same approved certification, who are appointed
by the DHS Director.�

4.

Sets the term for each Advisory Committee member at two years.

5.

Requires the DHS Director to consult with the Advisory Committee
regarding implementing the state-certified LCP statutes and the rules adopted.�

6.

Requires
the Advisory Committee to:

a)

assist in the development of the scope of practice and core competencies
for state-certified LCPs with different approved certifications; and

b)

review
rules and advise the DHS Director of any necessary updates.

7.

Prohibits the state and any political subdivision of the state from
providing a preference in awarding a public contract for state-certified LCP
services or an entity that employs

state-certified LCPs.

8.

Defines terms.

9.

Makes conforming changes.

House Action
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Senate
Action

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Prepared by Senate Research

March 27, 2026

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Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
HB2051 - 572R - H Ver

House Engrossed

AHCCCS; lactation
care; breastfeeding

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

HOUSE BILL 2051

AN
ACT

Amending section 36-2907, Arizona Revised
Statutes; relating to the Arizona health care cost containment system.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section
1.
1. Section
36-2907, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE
36-2907.

Covered health
and medical services; modifications; related delivery of service requirements;
rules; definitions

A. Subject to the limits and exclusions specified in
this section, contractors shall provide the following medically necessary
health and medical services:

1. Inpatient hospital services that are ordinarily
furnished by a hospital to care for and treat inpatients and that are provided
under the direction of a physician or a primary care
practitioner. For the purposes of this section, inpatient hospital
services exclude services in an institution for tuberculosis or mental diseases
unless authorized under an approved section 1115 waiver.

2. Outpatient health services that are ordinarily
provided in hospitals, clinics, offices and other health care facilities by
licensed health care providers. Outpatient health services include
services provided by or under the direction of a physician or a primary care
practitioner, including occupational therapy.

3. Other laboratory and X-ray services ordered
by a physician or a primary care practitioner.

4. Medications that are ordered on prescription by a
physician or a dentist who is licensed pursuant to title 32, chapter 11.�
Persons who are dually eligible for title XVIII and title XIX services must
obtain available medications through a medicare licensed or certified medicare
advantage prescription drug plan, a medicare prescription drug plan or any
other entity authorized by medicare to provide a medicare part D prescription
drug benefit.

5. Medical supplies, durable medical equipment,
insulin pumps and prosthetic devices ordered by a physician or a primary care
practitioner. Suppliers of durable medical equipment shall provide the
administration with complete information about the identity of each person who
has an ownership or controlling interest in their business and shall comply
with federal bonding requirements in a manner prescribed by the administration.

6. For persons who are at least twenty-one
years of age, treatment of medical conditions of the eye, excluding eye
examinations for prescriptive lenses and the provision of prescriptive lenses.

7. Early and periodic health screening and
diagnostic services as required by section 1905(r) of title XIX of the social
security act for members who are under twenty-one years of age.

8. Family planning services that do not include
abortion or abortion counseling. If a contractor elects not to
provide family planning services, this election does not disqualify the
contractor from delivering all other covered health and medical services under
this chapter. In that event, the administration may contract
directly with another contractor, including an outpatient surgical center or a
noncontracting provider, to deliver family planning services to a member who is
enrolled with the contractor that elects not to provide family planning
services.

9. Podiatry services that are performed by a
podiatrist who is licensed pursuant to title 32, chapter 7 and ordered by a
primary care physician or primary care practitioner.

10. Nonexperimental transplants approved for title
XIX reimbursement.

11. Dental services as follows:

(a) Except as provided in subdivision (b) of this
paragraph, for persons who are at least twenty-one years of age,
emergency dental care and extractions in an annual amount of not more than
$1,000 per member.

(b) Subject to approval by the centers for medicare
and medicaid services, for persons treated at an Indian health service or
tribal facility, adult dental services that are eligible for a federal medical
assistance percentage of one hundred percent and that exceed the limit
prescribed in subdivision (a) of this paragraph.

12. Ambulance and nonambulance transportation,
except as provided in subsection G of this section.

13. Hospice care.

14. Orthotics, if all of the following apply:

(a) The use of the orthotic is medically necessary
as the preferred treatment option consistent with medicare guidelines.

(b) The orthotic is less expensive than all other
treatment options or surgical procedures to treat the same diagnosed condition.

(c) The orthotic is ordered by a physician or
primary care practitioner.

15. Subject to approval by the centers for medicare
and medicaid services, medically necessary chiropractic services that are
performed by a chiropractor who is licensed pursuant to title 32, chapter 8 and
that are ordered by a primary care physician or primary care practitioner
pursuant to rules adopted by the administration. The primary care
physician or primary care practitioner may initially order up to twenty visits
annually that include treatment and may request authorization for additional
chiropractic services in that same year if additional chiropractic services are
medically necessary.

16. For up to ten
program hours annually, diabetes outpatient self-management training
services, as defined in 42 United States Code section 1395x, if prescribed by a
primary care practitioner in either of the following circumstances:

(a) The
member is initially diagnosed with diabetes.

(b) For
a member who has previously been diagnosed with diabetes, either:

(i) A change occurs in
the member's diagnosis, medical condition or treatment regimen.

(ii) The member is not meeting appropriate clinical
outcomes.

17. Pursuant to the terms and conditions that are
approved by the centers for medicare and medicaid services and subject to available
funding, traditional healing services, if both of the following apply:

(a) The member qualifies for services through the
Indian health service or a tribal facility pursuant to the conditions of
participation outlined in 42 Code of Federal Regulations section 136.12.

(b) The traditional healing service is delivered by
or through the Indian health service or a tribal facility.

18.
Subject to
approval by the centers for medicare and medicaid services, breastfeeding and
lactation care services, including consultations, education and counseling,
that are provided in inpatient, outpatient, home-based and group
settings.

B. The limits and exclusions for health and medical
services provided under this section are as follows:

1. Circumcision of newborn males is not a covered
health and medical service.

2. For eligible persons who are at least twenty-one
years of age:

(a) Prosthetic devices do not include hearing aids,
dentures or bone-anchored hearing aids. Prosthetic devices,
except prosthetic implants, may be limited to $12,500 per contract year.

(b) Percussive vests are not covered health and
medical services.

(c) Durable medical equipment is limited to items
covered by medicare.

(d) Nonexperimental transplants do not include
pancreas-only transplants.

(e) Bariatric surgery procedures, including
laparoscopic and open gastric bypass and restrictive procedures, are not
covered health and medical services.

C. The system shall pay noncontracting providers
only for health and medical services as prescribed in subsection A of this
section and as prescribed by rule.

D. The director shall adopt rules necessary to
limit, to the extent possible, the scope, duration and amount of services,
including maximum limits for inpatient services that are consistent with
federal regulations under title XIX of the social security act (P.L. 89-97;
79 Stat. 344; 42 United States Code section 1396 (1980)). To
the extent possible and practicable, these rules shall provide for the prior
approval of medically necessary services provided pursuant to this chapter.

E. The director shall make available home health
services in lieu of hospitalization pursuant to contracts awarded under this
article.� For the purposes of this subsection, "home health services"
means the provision of nursing services, home health aide services or medical
supplies, equipment and appliances that are provided on a part-time or
intermittent basis by a licensed home health agency within a member's residence
based on the orders of a physician or a primary care practitioner.� Home health
agencies shall comply with the federal bonding requirements in a manner
prescribed by the administration.

F. The director shall adopt rules for the coverage
of behavioral health services for persons who are eligible under section 36-2901,
paragraph 6, subdivision (a). The administration acting through
the regional behavioral health authorities shall establish a diagnostic and
evaluation program to which other state agencies shall refer children who are
not already enrolled pursuant to this chapter and who may be in need of
behavioral health services. In addition to an evaluation, the
administration acting through regional behavioral health authorities shall also
identify children who may be eligible under section 36-2901,
paragraph 6, subdivision (a) or section 36-2931, paragraph 5 and
shall refer the children to the appropriate agency responsible for making the
final eligibility determination.

G. The director shall adopt rules providing for
transportation services and rules providing for copayment by members for
transportation for other than emergency purposes. Subject to
approval by the centers for medicare and medicaid services, nonemergency
medical transportation shall not be provided except for stretcher vans and
ambulance transportation. Prior authorization is required for transportation by
stretcher van and for medically necessary ambulance transportation initiated
pursuant to a physician's direction. Prior authorization is not
required for medically necessary ambulance transportation services rendered to
members or eligible persons initiated by dialing telephone number 911 or other
designated emergency response systems.

H. The director may adopt rules to allow the
administration, at the director's discretion, to use a second opinion procedure
under which surgery may not be eligible for coverage pursuant to this chapter
without documentation as to need by at least two physicians or primary care
practitioners.

I. If the director does not receive bids within the
amounts budgeted or if at any time the amount remaining in the Arizona health
care cost containment system fund is insufficient to pay for full contract
services for the remainder of the contract term, the administration, on
notification to system contractors at least thirty days in advance, may modify
the list of services required under subsection A of this section for persons
defined as eligible other than those persons defined pursuant to section 36-2901,
paragraph 6, subdivision (a).� The director may also suspend services or may
limit categories of expense for services defined as optional pursuant to title
XIX of the social security act (P.L. 89-97; 79 Stat. 344; 42 United
States Code section 1396 (1980)) for persons defined pursuant to section 36-2901,
paragraph 6, subdivision (a). Such reductions or suspensions do not
apply to the continuity of care for persons already receiving these services.

J. All health and medical services provided under
this article shall be provided in the geographic service area of the member,
except:

1. Emergency services and specialty services
provided pursuant to section 36-2908.

2. That the director may allow the delivery of
health and medical services in other than the geographic service area in this
state or in an adjoining state if the director determines that medical practice
patterns justify the delivery of services or a net reduction in transportation
costs can reasonably be expected. Notwithstanding the definition of
physician as prescribed in section 36-2901, if services are procured from
a physician or primary care practitioner in an adjoining state, the physician
or primary care practitioner shall be licensed to practice in that state
pursuant to licensing statutes in that state that are similar to title 32,
chapter 13, 15, 17 or 25 and shall complete a provider agreement for this
state.

K. Covered outpatient services shall be
subcontracted by a primary care physician or primary care practitioner to other
licensed health care providers to the extent practicable for purposes
including, but not limited to, making health care services available to
underserved areas, reducing costs of providing medical care and reducing
transportation costs.

L. The director shall adopt rules that prescribe the
coordination of medical care for persons who are eligible for system
services. The rules shall include provisions for transferring
patients and medical records and initiating medical care.

M. Pursuant to the terms and conditions that are
approved by the centers for medicare and medicaid services and subject to
available funding, the director shall implement limited benefit coverage
prerelease services to eligible incarcerated individuals and committed youth
for up to ninety days immediately before
the individuals'
each individual's
or committed youth's expected date of
release from a prison, jail, secure care facility or tribal correctional
facility.

N. Notwithstanding section 36-2901.08, monies
from the hospital assessment fund established by section 36-2901.09 may
not be used to provide any of the following:

1. Chiropractic services as prescribed in subsection
A, paragraph 15 of this section.

2. Diabetes outpatient
self-management training services as prescribed in subsection A, paragraph 16
of this section.

3. Speech therapy
provided in an outpatient setting to eligible persons who are at least twenty-one
years of age.

4. Cochlear implants to
eligible persons who are at least twenty-one years of age.

O. For the purposes of this section:

1. "Ambulance" has the same meaning
prescribed in section 36-2201.

2. "Tribal facility" has the same meaning
prescribed in section 36-2981.
END_STATUTE