Arizona State Medicaid Advisory Committee (SMAC)

The State Medicaid Advisory Committee (SMAC) reviews and advises the Medicaid agency on the operations, programs, and planning for Arizona's Medicaid program.

Mission and Purpose

The SMAC advises the Director of AHCCCS on policy, operations and administrative issues of the Medicaid program, including issues of concern to the community.

Authority

The SMAC operates in accordance with 42 CFR 431.12 (Code of Federal Regulations) and the Medicaid State Plan.

Bylaws

The bylaws for the SMAC were created in September 1992 and are reviewed annually, or on an as needed basis.

SMAC Bylaws

State Medicaid Advisory Committee (SMAC) Members

The SMAC shall include the AHCCCS Director or designee, the Director of the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) or a designee, and the Director of the Department of Economic Security (DES) or a designee.

The remaining authorized members shall be no less than seventeen (17), as follows:

Health care providers or professionals with a direct interest in the AHCCCS program;

Members of the public, (e.g. a Medicaid recipient, a consumer advocate, a representative of a tribal community, or a representative of the educational community, etc

Members are appointed for a two-year term and may serve three consecutive terms. After serving three consecutive terms members must wait 24 months before re-applying for a committee position.

Public Members

Terry Benelli, Executive Director, Local Initiatives Support Corporation
Matt Jewett, Director of Health Policy, Children's Action Alliance
Kavita Bernstein, Vice President of Programs and Impact
Vince Torres, Community Member/Advocate
Dina Norwood, Managing Attorney, Community Legal Services
Jill Anne Castle, Professor/Advocate/Consultant, Arizona State University
Diana “Dede” Yazzie Devine, Community Member/Advocate
Melissa Kotrys, CEO, Contexture
Tory Roberg, Director of Government Affairs, Alzheimer's Association, Desert Southwest Chapter
Serena Unrein, Community Member/Advocate

Provider/Professional Members

Katherine Andersen, Director of Health Information Management and Medical Staff; Privacy Officer, San Carlos Apache Healthcare Corporation
John Hogeboom, CEO/President, Community Bridges, Inc.
Jennifer Longdon, Chief External Affairs Officer, Arizona Alliance for Community Health Centers
Dr. Aaron Knudson, Internal Medicine and Pediatric Hospitalist, Banner Page Hospital
Elizabeth McKenna, M.D., Co-Owner, Healing Hearts Pediatrics
Karen Resseguie, Behavioral Health Administrator, Foundation for Senior Living
Dr. Jessica B. Peterkin, Dentist & Founder/CEO, Ministry of Dentistry, Inc
Vicki Staples, Director of OP Behavioral Health, Valleywise Health
Brittney Kaufmann, Chief Executive Officer, Health System Alliance of Arizona
Mary Jo Whitfield, VP of Integrated Health, Jewish Family and Children's Services

Ex-Officio Members

Carmen Heredia, Director, AHCCCS Administration
Molly McCarthy, Deputy Director of Programs, AZ Department of Economic Security
Sheila Sjolander, Assistant Director of the Division of Public Health Prevention Services, AZ Dept. of Health Services

Membership Information

SMAC is always accepting nominations to serve. Committee member voting sessions take place annually during the October quarterly meeting as stated in the SMAC bylaws.

Public member positions (e.g. a Medicaid recipient, a consumer advocate, a representative of a tribal community, or a representative of the educational community, etc.)
Professional member positions (e.g. health care providers or professionals with a direct interest in the AHCCCS program)

If you would like to serve or nominate someone to serve on the SMAC, please fill out the nomination form below and send it to DCAIRCommunityAffairs@azahcccs.gov.

Nomination Form

For additional information on membership please contact Desiree Greene at 602-714-3596 or by email at DCAIRCommunityAffairs@azahcccs.gov.

Meeting Information

The State Medicaid Advisory Committee (SMAC) meets quarterly, chaired by the AHCCCS Director. SMAC meetings are open to the public and include a public comment period at the end of the agenda. For the duration of the COVID-19 public health emergency, all SMAC meetings will be held via webinar/telephone. Presentations and/or meeting materials are available in PDF format and posted by meeting date below. Please also see below for all historical meeting materials, under the "Archived SMAC Meeting Materials" drop down.