Starting or Growing a Healthcare Clinic in Arizona — We’ve Done It 50+ Times

Starting a physical or behavioral health clinic in Arizona is one of the most regulated, multi-step, multi-agency processes in health care. Between ADHS Public Health licensure, AHCCCS provider enrollment, MCO credentialing and contracting, Joint Commission, NCQA, Council on Accreditation or CARF accreditation, clinical policy and procedure development, EHR implementation, and revenue cycle setup — there are dozens of ways a new clinic can be delayed, denied, or derailed before seeing its first patient.

Hess III Consulting has guided more than 50 Arizona clinics through this process — from new clinic launches to acquisitions, mergers, and organizational restructuring. We know every step, every timeline, every common mistake, and every shortcut that regulators will and won’t accept. If you’re opening, expanding, or restructuring a behavioral health clinic in Arizona, we are the most experienced team you can hire.

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The Arizona Clinic Launch Roadmap

Step 1: Entity formation and corporate structure — LLC, nonprofit 501(c)(3), or professional corporation
Step 2: Secure clinic location/building that is appropriate for intended purpose.
Step 3: Licensure readiness; policy and procedure development, electronic health record implementation, staff recruiting and retention.
Step 4: ADHS Public Health Licensure application — site inspection, policy review, staffing plan
Step 5: AHCCCS provider enrollment — online NPI registration, tax ID, ownership disclosure
Step 6: Health Plan contracting and credentialing

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What Our Clients Say About Hess III Consulting

"We wouldn't be in business today if it weren't for Hess III Consulting guiding us along the way"

— Michelle

Owner, Substance Use Treatment Provider

"You are the best in the business and we wouldn't have considered moving forward with our new health home if you weren't going to be by our side."

— John

Chief Financial Officer, Multi-site Provider

"You are absolutely the best. THANK YOU for helping get launched and contracted; there is no way we could have done that with out you"

— Kristen

CEO, Outpatient Treatment Center

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does ADHS licensure take in Arizona?

ADHS Public Health Lcensure in Arizona typically takes 90–180 days from application submission to license issuance, depending on completeness of the application, staff credentialing, facility readiness, and the specific license type. Outpatient licenses generally process faster than residential or inpatient facility licenses. Hess III Consulting prepares applications that minimize back-and-forth with ADHS surveyors, significantly reducing timelines and roadblocks.

How do I enroll with AHCCCS as a new provider?

AHCCCS provider enrollment requires: an active NPI (National Provider Identifier), a completed AHCCCS online enrollment application, ownership disclosure forms, tax identification documentation, malpractice insurance verification, and ADHS licensure for facility-based services. After AHCCCS enrollment, you must separately credential and contract with each MCO whose members you want to serve. Hess III Consulting manages this entire process for clients.

How do I contract with health plans to get paid for services?

In Arizona there are over 40 health plans to contract with; fortunately, the process is very similar across payers, with some distinctions based on payer type (e.g. Medicare, Medicaid, Marketplace, Commercial, etc.). Health plan contracting starts with a letter of intent, which functions like a sales proposal to 'pitch' your organization, clinic and programs to the health plan; creating a compelling argument why they need you in their network. Then there are the credentialing forms and requirements which aggregates all the information the health plan will need to add you to their system (e.g. NPI, licenses, Medicaid ID, practitioner information etc.).

How long does it take to contract with health plans?

This can be quite variable. In some instances, health plans can complete this process within 30-days. However, contracting can often take several months as they consider their network needs and how well you've positioned yourself as filling a gap in their Provider network.

Connect with Us

We love getting to know good people doing good things. Reach out and schedule a free consultation. We'll gladly share early insights and help figure out how we can best support you and your organization. Absolutely no commitment required.

(480) 559-1051
info@hess3.com