Notice to all class members from AHCCCS about the Padilla settlement

March 27, 2007

Notice to Federal Emergency Service (FES) Members of Emergency Dialysis Coverage

Dear FES Member:

As a result of the Padilla v. Rodgers lawsuit involving the FES program, the AHCCCS Administration will pay for dialysis services as an emergency service if you require dialysis and your doctor says that dialysis is needed at least three times per week. The doctor must fill out and sign the required forms.

The AHCCCS Administration will notify you of fair hearing rights before ending coverage or payment for dialysis services, or when dialysis services are denied if they are not an emergency.

The lawsuit also requires the AHCCCS Administration to:

• Send a notice to all hospitals, dialysis clinics, and other doctors providing dialysis care.
• Change policy manuals and rules to cover emergency dialysis services.
• Tell the Department of Economic Security (DES) that emergency dialysis service is covered for FES members and train both AHCCCS and DES employees.
• Publish emergency dialysis service information on the Web at: www.azahcccs.gov.

If you have difficulty getting dialysis services or have questions, please feel free to contact:

AHCCCS Office of Client Advocacy (OCA), 801 E. Jefferson, Phoenix AZ 85034, 602-417-4230 or 1-800-654-8713, or

Sally Hart at William E. Morris Institute for Justice, 2033 E. Speedway Boulevard, Suite 200, Tucson, AZ 85719, (520) 322-0126, or

Ellen Sue Katz at William Morris Institute for Justice, 202 E. McDowell Suite 257, Phoenix AZ 85004, (602) 252-3432

Ms. Hart and Ms. Katz are the attorneys who brought the Padilla lawsuit.

Sincerely,
AHCCCS Administration