AHCCCS created and incorporated a tribal consultation policy as a result of the formal direction issued by former Governor Janet Napolitano in 2006. The AHCCCS Tribal Liaison is the point of contact responsible for implementing the policy as necessary and responding to tribal concerns. As a result, Tribal Consultation has been implemented on many AHCCCS program and policy changes.
The AHCCCS Consultation Meetings with Tribes and I/T/Us are held in accordance with the AHCCCS Tribal Consultation Policy. Meetings are held to consult with tribes, Indian Health Service, tribal health programs operated under P.L. 93-638, and urban Indian health programs in Arizona on policy and programmatic changes that may significantly impact AHCCCS-enrolled American Indian/Alaska Native members, including KidsCare members.
| Consultation Type | Date | Time (Arizona Time) | Location | Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Special Tribal Consultation: Traditional Healing & Rural Health Transformation Program |
January 13, 2026 (Tuesday) |
1:00pm – 5:00pm | Virtual & In-person – Arizona Department of Administration 100 N 15th Ave #300, Phoenix, AZ 85007 |
Agenda Presentation |
| Tri-Agency Tribal Consultation Q1 | February 5, 2026 (Thursday) |
8:30am – 4:30pm | Virtual & In-person – Phoenix Indian School Visitor Center at Indian Steele Park 300 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix, AZ 85012 |
Zoom Registration Agenda Presentation |
| Tri-Agency Tribal Consultation Q2 | May 7, 2026 (Thursday) |
8:30am – 4:30pm | Virtual & In-person – Twin Arrows Navajo Casino Resort 22181 Resort Blvd, Flagstaff, AZ 86004 |
Zoom Registration |
| Tri-Agency Tribal Consultation Q3 | August 4, 2026 (Tuesday) |
8:30am – 4:30pm | Virtual & In-person – Hon-Dah Casino 777 AZ-260, Pinetop, AZ 85935 |
Zoom Registration |
| Tri-Agency Tribal Consultation Q4 | November 4, 2026 (Wednesday) |
8:30am – 4:30pm | Virtual & In-person – TBD |
Zoom Registration |
The Federal Government has enacted numerous regulations and policies that establish and define a trust relationship with Tribes. Federal departments, including the U.S Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), have tribal consultation policies in place to guide their work with federally-recognized tribes.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) - the agency within DHHS that is responsible for the oversight of Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) - has developed a draft tribal consultation policy and works closely with the CMS Tribal Technical Advisory Group.
