Dare To Make A Difference

08/05/2025

We need to help seniors!

https://d2madnews.com/independent-news-stories/seniors-need-more-help

07/07/2025

Maricopa County-On June 11, 2025, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors (BOS) approved an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) between Maricopa County and the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS). The agreement extends the existing arrangement for the county's funding of behavioral health services for a term of one year from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026. (1) The BOS agenda stated:

"County funding for services to the seriously mentally ill (SMI) under this IGA will be $82,083,354 for FY 2025-26. This increases the level of county funding based on an adjustment for inflation for services to the seriously mentally ill by $3,908,731 over the funding paid under the previous IGA in FY 2024-25. The FY 2025-26 IGA also includes funding for non-SMI services in the amount of $3,366,705 and substance abuse services in the amount of $1,489,871 for the one-year term which is equal to the FY 2024-25 level.

The IGA will be in effect upon signature of the last party and shall remain in effect until June 30, 2026. The IGA may be amended, extended, or terminated pursuant to the IGA provisions, including a 90-day termination without cause provision. Total County funding for behavioral health services in FY 2025-26 under the IGA will be $86,939,930 for a one-year term." (1)

Thank you to the Maricopa County BOS for Daring 2 Make A Difference to improve behavioral health in the county! Supervisors Kate Brophy McGee, Mark Stewart, Debbie Lesko, Steve Gallardo all voted in favor of the funding. To look at other Board of Supervisor meeting agendas, use the link below:

https://www.maricopa.gov/324/Board-of-Supervisors-Meeting-Information

Sources:

1.https://www.maricopa.gov/324/Board-of-Supervisors-Meeting-Information

Get information about the meetings of the Board of Supervisors.

05/29/2025

Arizona-"Over 615,000 adults in Arizona live with diabetes, and nearly 2 million have prediabetes, a condition that often leads to type 2 diabetes if left unaddressed." (1) To manage their diabetic symptoms, many patients use a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), which is a benefit not eligible for AHCCCS patients at this time. But now, with the passage of S.B. 1132, AHCCCS patients will soon be eligible to receive their own monitor. On 5/7/25, the CGM bill with 48 "Ayes" and 10 "Nayes" was successfully passed out of the House of Representatives and transmitted to the Governor. What is a CGM? According to a State Senate Fact Sheet:

"Continuous glucose monitoring means using a device to automatically estimate a person's blood glucose level throughout the day and night. A person can see what the individual's blood glucose level is at any time and review how the person's blood glucose level changes over a period of time from a few hours to days. A continuous glucose monitor (CGM) is the device used to monitor a person's glucose level every few minutes and to keep track of the glucose levels over time." (2) So what does S.B. 1132 do exactly?

"1. Requires contractors with AHCCCS to:
a) provide AHCCCS members with CGMs through a pharmacy benefit and a durable medical equipment benefit;
b) allow a member's prescribing provider to determine the appropriate CGM for the member.
2. Requires AHCCCS to update the coverage criteria for CGMs to align with the current standards of care and to post the criteria for CGM coverage on AHCCCS's public website as a standalone document.
3. Specifies that the criteria for CGM coverage must be consistent, regardless of whether the monitor is received as a pharmacy benefit or a durable medical equipment benefit." (2)

Thank you to the Arizona House of Representatives for Daring 2 Make A Difference for AHCCCS patients with Diabetes! The CGM will be a great tool that will help these patients manage this difficult disease. To read the bill in its entirety, use the link below:

05/08/2025

Unfortunately, there is a healthcare shortage in Arizona. The state will need an additional 1941 primary care doctors by 2030 to keep up with the valley's growth. (1) This is why S.B. 1727 was signed into law on 5/2/2025. The idea is to give Arizona residents priority in being accepted to instate medical schools so that students can stay and study in the Grand Canyon state. The bill reads:

"A. IF A UNIVERSITY UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS HAS A MEDICAL SCHOOL, THE MEDICAL SCHOOL, CONSISTENT WITH ANY STANDARDS SET BY THE NATIONAL ACCREDITING ORGANIZATION FOR THE MEDICAL SCHOOL, SHALL DO ALL OF THE FOLLOWING:

3. IF APPLICABLE, GIVE PRIORITY CONSIDERATION IN THE FIRST ROUND OF ADMISSIONS INTERVIEWS TO ANY APPLICANT WHO IS FROM THIS STATE AND WHO MEETS THE ADMISSIONS QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE PRESCRIBED BY THE MEDICAL SCHOOL." (2)

Thank you to the legislature and Governor for working together to Dare 2 Make A Difference for the health care shortage in our state. Let's give residents priority in attending medical school so they can stay and study in Arizona. To read the bill in its entirety, follow the link below:

https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/83180

Sources:

1.https://crh.arizona.edu/news/arizona-invests-program-help-reduce-critical-shortage-primary-physicians

2.https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/83180

12/29/2024

Shop with a Cop. :) Thank you to the Apache Junction Police Department for Daring 2 Make A Difference in the lives of children this holiday season.

Published 10:21 PM Apache Junction-On December 14, children had the opportunity to "Shop with a Cop" in the morning. This is the second year the Apache Junction Police Department participated in bringing holiday cheer to the community. Chick-fil-A breakfast was provided to the kids, and Santa was th...

11/28/2024

What is the Maricopa County Election Canvass?

Published 3:23 PM Maricopa County-On November 21 at 1 pm, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors (BOS) met to canvass the election results. But what does it mean to canvass? It means reviewing or going through the election department's report on how the November 5 election was executed and handled...

10/29/2024

Should out to Independent candidate Evan Olson for helping out voters with disabilities.

https://d2madnews.com/independent-news-stories/independent-evan-olson-aims-to-help-disabled-voters

09/24/2024

What do the numbers mean for the Arizona Ballot Measures?

Published 8:01 PM Arizona-Signs are up everywhere on street corners now indicating support or opposition for several ballot initiatives. But why are some propositions numbered differently? For example, Proposition 311 is related to first responders, and Proposition 137 is associated with the judicia...

09/02/2024

Courtroom victory for the wild horses!

https://d2madnews.com/independent-news-stories/courtroom-victory-for-the-wild-horses

06/25/2024

https://d2madnews.com/independent-news-stories/new-arizona-budget-gives-breaks-for-vehicle-emissions

Published 9:58 AM Arizona-The Arizona state legislature just recently adjourned and approved the state budget for the 2024-2025 calendar year. Many are upset with certain aspects of the budget, but at least we can smile about vehicle emission testing. This part of the budget was known as H.B. 2902.....

07/06/2023

SRP Rates are going up

In June 2022, my bill was $182 for my SRP bill. Now in June 2023, my bill was $255. So how much have rates gone up in the last year?

"Last year, the SRP Board approved a two-part FFPAM rate increase to better reflect the price SRP pays for fuel and purchased power. The first part went into effect Nov. 1, 2022. Even with these previously approved increases, the under-collected balance for fuel and purchased power would have continued to grow. This is due to the addition of new renewable and battery storage projects, including some that have become more expensive because of supply chain disruptions, as well as higher costs associated with procuring natural gas and long-term purchased power commitments needed to ensure reliability." (1)

On November 2023, another rate increase will bring the total to a 9.6 percent increase in the last 12 months. According to the SRP Newsroom, on March 2023, the following announcement was made, "Today, the SRP Board of Directors approved a further increase to the Fuel and Purchased Power Adjustment Mechanism (FPPAM) rate change already planned for Nov. 1, 2023. This will result in a total overall increase of 9.6 percent, or $0.01 per kilowatt-hour (kWh). Residential customers will experience an average increase of 8 percent." (1)

So amid these rate increases, what can be done to lower our energy usage? Check out the link below to view some energy strategies that could help off the 9.6 percent rate hike.

https://www.srpnet.com/energy-savings-rebates/home/diy-energy-saving-projects #3

Sources:

1.

https://media.srpnet.com/srp-board-approves-additional-fuel-and-purchased-power-increase-effective-nov-1-2023/

Simple home improvement projects can help you save on your energy bill. Explore our top tips, tools and DIY projects for homeowners and renters.

07/02/2023

Congressman can work together. :)

The Salt River Wild Horse Management Group (SRWHMG) has been hard at work. SRWHMG has been fundraising to save the Alpine Horses from being slaughtered, and have been preparing to support the Salt River wild horses in a federal court case that seeks to remove them from the Salt River. The group has also been lobbying congress for added support.

In June 2023 the SRWHMG posted on Facebook about a recent meeting they had with Rep David Schweikert from Congressional District 6. "He stated that Humane Wild Horse Management through fertility control is the much better and more fiscally responsible option versus expensive and cruel removals."

The Facebook post goes onto to say that Representative Schweikert who is a Republican,and Representative Raul Grijalva who is a Democratic from Congressional District 7 are working together to protect our wild horses. The post said, "we have great support from Democratic leaders like Congressman Raul Grijalva also and they are working together for the sake of this issue.
We are very thankful for the support on both sides of the isle."

Thank you to Congressman Schweikert and Grijalva for Daring 2 Make A Difference in the community and protect our wild horses!