Why This is Personal

“I didn’t come to this issue from a briefing paper. I ran a behavioral healthcare organization serving Arizonans in addiction recovery — most of them on Medicaid. Federal government cuts under the "Big Beautiful Bill" meant our business was no longer viable. Two hundred fifty employees lost their jobs. Patients lost their care.

I’ve seen how poorly designed healthcare policy affects patients, providers, and businesses. I have the experience to be part of solutions that improve the well-being of Arizonans.”

Protect AHCCCS from cuts

More than two million Arizonans depend on Medicaid. Cutting coverage doesn’t reduce costs — it shifts them to emergency rooms and raises premiums for everyone with private insurance. Cuts to this program inevitably lead to increases in your healthcare and insurance costs.

Defend Arizona’s behavioral health system

Addiction recovery, mental health care, and crisis services are already fragile in Arizona. Cuts to these programs don’t save Arizonans' money. They move hefty expenses to our hospitals, jails, and emergency services. Arizona taxpayers deserve long-term strategies that demonstrate positive behavioral health outcomes instead of continuing to foot the bill triaging crises.

Protect rural hospitals

Arizona’s rural hospitals run on thin margins. When one closes, entire communities can find themselves hours from emergency care, compromising healthcare outcomes. The Arizona State House must use every tool available to keep these rural hospitals open, because it’s truly a life-or-death situation.

Expand preventive and primary care

Preventive care costs far less than emergency care. Shifting Arizona's healthcare expenditure to expanded primary care access, mental health services, and preventive programs is a strategy to increase well-being for all Arizonans and reduce more expensive emergency healthcare costs.