Samaritan Health Services v. Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System Administration

OPINION

EHRLICH, Acting Presiding Judge.

The issue presented by this appeal is whether the superior court correctly ruled that the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System Administration (“AHCCCS”) and Arizona Physicians IPA, Inc. (“APIPA”) must pay Samaritan Health Services’ claim for emergency air transportation services provided to a patient who was a member of Arizona’s indigent health-care program. We affirm the court’s judgment for the reasons which follow.

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

Electing not to participate in the federal Medicaid program, the Arizona Legislature developed a…