The Arizona Department of Health Services (Department) is starting a rulemaking to amend the Hospice Rules in Arizona Administrative Code Title 9, Chapter 10, Article 6.

The rulemaking is intended to comply with new statutory changes, including Laws 2022, Ch. 179, which requires the Department to ensure a health care institution’s visitation policy allows a clergy member to visit a patient, Laws 2022, Ch. 296, which requires the Department to ensure a hospice develops a visitation policy, especially during end-of-life care, and Laws 2018, Ch. 1, related to the proper disposal of schedule II-controlled substances. In addition, the Department plans to revise rules in 9 A.A.C. 10, Article 6 to update cross-references, correct grammatical errors, and make the rules more clear, concise, and understandable

Good to Know:

The rules draft is available on the Department's Rulemaking Page and the Department is requesting comments from our community via an Online Survey. The comment period will close on January 7, 2023. 

AHPCO's Board is reviewing the proposed changes and will be filing comments on behalf of AHPCO Members by the January 7 deadline.

At the close of this comment period, the Department will consider the comments and may amend the draft rules to include suggestions/comments when appropriate. Should the Department amend the draft rules, the ADHS plans to post the amended draft rules for review and AHPCO will review and comment if needed.

Action to Take by January 3

You are welcome to submit your own comments using the link above or if you have specific comments you would like the AHPCO Board to consider and/or include in the organization's comments, please submit them by email (info@ahpco.org) to AHPCO's Executive Director Marie Fredette by email by January 3.