Expertise Rooted in Arizona

Examples of Our Public Sector and Government Experience

We have served as a trusted partner to Arizona’s public health and human services infrastructure at the state, county, and municipal levels.

Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS)

AHCCCS is the backbone of Arizona’s publicly funded health system, and Hess III Consulting has supported work that touches virtually every dimension of it—from network development and provider contracting to behavioral health integration, quality improvement, and system evaluation.

• Supported the design and implementation of the largest Medicaid-funded integrated care contract in Arizona’s history—the Mercy Maricopa Integrated Care ACC-RBHA contract, a $7 billion multi-year agreement covering 700,000 lives including 25,000 individuals with Serious Mental Illness (SMI) and 20,000 children with Severe Emotional Disturbance (SED).
• Provided SME support for AHCCCS pre-capture planning and managed care strategy for Mercy Care ALTCS (2021–2024), including IT and reporting strategy, network development, and stakeholder engagement.
• Supported Arizona Complete Health’s ALTCS bid pre-work (2023), including Medicaid managed care strategy development.
• Provided bid compliance and competitiveness reviews for WellCare Arizona.
• Member of the Arizona Department of Health Services State Health Improvement Plan (2014–2016).
• Served on the ADHS Division of Behavioral Health Services Advisory Committee (2009–2015), including as reviewer for state prevention programs and member of the LGBTQ Advisory Committee.
• Produced the Quality Service Review (QSR) Final Report for ADHS’ Division of Behavioral Health Services (2013 and 2014)—a publicly available statewide evaluation of the SMI system of care.

Arizona Governor’s Office

• Member of the Arizona Governor’s Office Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Arizona (SPACA), 2010–2013.
• Served on the Cover Arizona Steering Committee and Out2Enroll National Steering Committee, coordinating with the Governor’s Office to connect vulnerable Arizonans to health insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act (2014–2015).
• Participated in the Arizona Governor’s Office Arizona Health Improvement Plan (2014–2016).

Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS)

• Authored the Arizona Quality Service Review Final Reports (2013, 2014)—statewide evaluations of the behavioral health system of care, commissioned by ADHS and publicly available.
• Developed and implemented a cultural competency curriculum in collaboration with Arizona State University’s Southwest Center for Interdisciplinary Research Institute.
• Advised on Request for Application development for tobacco and chronic disease funding through the ADHS Office of Tobacco and Chronic Disease.
• Conducted behavioral health system evaluation and provided recommendations for ADHS-commissioned quality service reviews.
• Settled a two-year corrective action plan with ADHS on behalf of Southwest Key Programs—the largest U.S. shelter for unaccompanied migrant children—in six months, across eleven residential treatment centers.

Maricopa County

• Served on the Governing Council of Valleywise Health (an FQHC serving Maricopa County), 2020–2021.
• Provided capacity building and technical assistance to six Maricopa County municipalities—Scottsdale, Surprise, Maricopa, Bullhead City, Quartzsite, and Parker—to develop age-friendly programs for seniors 60+.
• Provided cultural competency, prevention, and education training for the Maricopa County Department of Public Health STD/STI practitioners.
• Authored the Maricopa County LGBT Consortium Needs Assessment (2010)—a nationally recognized community health needs assessment published through Magellan Health Services of Arizona.
• Produced the Maricopa County Crisis System 360 Degree Evaluation (2014), and the Maricopa County Children’s System of Care Evaluation Report (2014), both commissioned by Mercy Maricopa Integrated Care.
• Led and authored ADHS-commissioned Quality Service Reviews for the SMI system of care in Maricopa County (2013 and 2014).
• Founded the Maricopa County LGBT Consortium as a community prevention coalition, establishing partnerships with ADHS, RBHA–Magellan, and 85+ public/private providers.

Our Work with Arizona Managed Care Organizations (MCOs)

Hess III Consulting has worked with every major Medicaid managed care organization operating in Arizona. Our work spans strategy, growth, operations, quality, and systems design across both physical health and behavioral health lines of business.

Mercy Care Plan / Mercy Maricopa Integrated Care

• Led clinical and operational implementation of the Mercy Maricopa ACC-RBHA—the $7 billion integrated care contract covering 700,000 lives in Maricopa County, including the state’s most complex populations: 25,000 SMI adults, 20,000 SED children, court-ordered treatment populations, and justice-involved individuals.
• Facilitated health system strategy and design with direct interface with AHCCCS officials, health plan executive leadership, and provider organizations.
• Designed models of care, internal policies, workflows, and desktop procedures for the new integrated system.
• Developed collaborative protocols with the Arizona Department of Corrections, Maricopa County Adult Probation, DES Rehabilitative Services, Arizona Veterans Administration, first responders, and hospital systems.
• Designed the care coordination information management system and built data exchange platforms for 200+ network providers, jails, corrections, and emergency departments.
• Developed provider contract scopes and performance-based payment mechanisms, provider manuals, and deliverable requirements for the full network.
• Facilitated 360-degree evaluation of the adult and children’s systems of care, psychiatric crisis service delivery, and payment reform strategies.
• Produced the Gila and Pinal County Health Needs Assessment (2021) and the Unmet Needs of Individuals Determined Seriously Mentally Ill in Maricopa County (2021), both commissioned by Mercy Care Plan.
• Produced a white paper on Innovations and Opportunities in Rural and Frontier Health for Arizona (2017) and a white paper on Clinical Engagement of Members on Court Ordered Treatment (2015).
• Provided ongoing Medicaid managed care bid development and strategy for Mercy Care Plan rebids: 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2024, 2025, and 2026. 

Care 1st Health Plan 

• Implemented Dual Eligibles (Medicare/Medicaid) program
• Designed system of care strategy for the developmentally disabled population.
• Designed a smartphone mobile application for member engagement.
• Developed system of care strategy for general mental health and substance use adults and children; submitted recommendations to the health plan Chief Medical Officer and AHCCCS.

Cenpatico Integrated Care

• Incorporated nonprofit public charity and obtained 501(c)(3) recognition.
• Conducted bid response compliance reviews and editing for the Greater Arizona AHCCCS RFP (2014)—awarded.

Health Choice Integrated Care (formerly NARBHA)

• Facilitated a 360-degree review of clinical and operational practices.
• Led strategic planning and provided recommendations to improve clinical outcomes.
• Developed and implemented professional development training curriculum for RBHA and provider staff.

Arizona Complete Health

• Provided Medicaid managed care bid pre-work for the ALTCS 2023 procurement.

Supporting Arizona nonprofits, coalitions & community organizations

Our commitment to Arizona extends beyond health plans and large providers. We have served the full ecosystem—from national advocacy organizations to grassroots nonprofits—because we believe the health system works best when every part of it is strong.

• Arizona Public Health Association – facilitated strategic planning.
• Arizona Behavioral Health Coalition – training and technical assistance.
• Arizona Coalition of Ethical Service Providers – technical assistance and advocacy regarding AHCCCS rate setting and Medicaid fraud.
• Vitalyst Foundation (formerly St. Luke’s Health Initiatives) / Cover Arizona Coalition – provided strategic technical assistance for ACA outreach targeting minority populations. Trained navigators and assisters, hosted community events, published educational media.
• Valleywise Health (FQHC) – Governing Council member, 2020–2021. Conducted 42 CFR Part 2 compliance audit and implementation.
• Agape Adoption Agency of Arizona – obtained international adoption accreditation from the Council on Accreditation. Developed fund development plan and strategic partnerships in behavioral health and child welfare.
• Mad Moms of Arizona – pro bono strategic planning, business growth and development, training and technical assistance.
• Turtle Island Women Warriors – pro bono grant writing, strategic planning, and technical assistance.