Shamp Slams AHCCCS: 77% of Disabled Patients Unchecked, Thousands Potentially Ineligible

June 17, 2025 ADI Staff Reporter
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Arizona Senate Majority Leader Janae Shamp (R-LD29), alongside House Majority Leader Michael Carbone (R-LD25), announced findings from a review of the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) conducted by Shamp, her staff, and the Patients First Coalition.

At a Tuesday press conference, Shamp expressed alarm, stating, “These findings raise serious concerns about how effectively we’re managing our public resources.” She is submitting an oversight request to Governor Katie Hobbs and demanding a comprehensive audit of Medicaid eligibility in Arizona.

The Patients First Coalition, a national organization focused on improving public health, hinted at significant issues in a post on X.com, claiming to be “exposing scandal that’ll rock Gov. Hobbs’ admin. ~20,000 #MedicaidMillionaires allegedly abusing the system” and calling it a “Bad day for Hobbs!” The group has previously conducted similar reviews in Ohio and South Carolina.

Shamp reported that the review found 77% of Arizona’s Aged, Blind, and Disabled Medicaid enrollees did not undergo proper eligibility checks, with only 23% receiving the required asset verification.

“I’m someone who is naturally skeptical of the efficiency of government programs, but even I was shocked at what they found,” Shamp said.

“It gets worse. Even in that limited sample, more than a third were flagged as potentially ineligible—many with substantial liquid assets, including more than 5,000 enrollees with over $50,000 in their bank. Sometimes called Medicaid Millionaires, these individuals are statistically very likely to have total assets in excess of $1 million – in other words, they should not be receiving Medicaid benefits!”

Shamp continued, “These findings aren’t just concerning—they’re a wake-up call. If broader verification had been in place, the estimate is that over 130,000 individuals may not have met the eligibility criteria for Medicaid assistance. That includes as many as 20,000 Medicaid Millionaires with ample financial means to pay for their own care—potentially costing the state up to $6 billion a year in unnecessary spending.”

Amid a contentious budget dispute, Shamp highlighted Hobbs’ request for a 7.5% spending increase for AHCCCS, calling it “a system that is unaccountable, mismanaged, and

misspending potentially billions of dollars each year.” She concluded, “This effort isn’t about partisanship. It’s about stewardship. We are entrusted with public funds, and we have a duty to make sure every dollar is going where it’s supposed to go. With more efficient oversight and stronger eligibility verification, we can save billions of dollars—money that can be reinvested into quality healthcare and better support for Arizonans in need.”

Shamp criticized the absence of a permanent AHCCCS director, noting it “makes accountability and leadership even more difficult to obtain.” She urged the Hobbs administration to address this, stating, “We owe it to taxpayers—and to the people who rely on these services—to ensure the agency is led effectively and transparently.”

“Let me be clear,” she emphasized, “this isn’t about politics—it’s about protecting the integrity of a system that’s meant to serve those truly in need. When resources are diverted to individuals who don’t qualify, the people who suffer most are those the system was designed to help. We’re talking about seniors, the deaf, the blind, and the disabled.”

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8 Comments

  2. Just one more system going to crash and cost the taxpayers billions because of our “illustrious” bureaucrats that think that they run the system and sadly they do. Where is the oversight by the politico’s? Where is the oversight by their direct supervisors who are bureaucrats too? No need to answer, once a state bureaucrat, you are set for life no matter how much money you cost the taxpayer and how worthless you are at your job.

  3. “they should not be receiving Medicaid benefits.”
    Why not? Don’t we all pay Medicaid taxes?

    • Difference between Medicaid and Medicare. I’m betting that of the ineligible filling their pockets, the vast majority are illegal aliens and the dollars are actually being collected by their slave masters, the Cartels and democrats.

  4. The Democrats lie, cheat, and steal. They hate authority and love destruction. It’s time for a change in Arizona!

  5. the 20% ‘the blind – old – ill – disabled’ were the ones that were checked – the 80% were – on vacation and couldn’t be reached.. left a mesaage

  6. With more efficient oversight and stronger eligibility verification, we can save billions of dollars—money that can be reinvested into quality healthcare and better support for Arizonans in need.”

    and this is going to be accomplished with State employees… the same ones that got us where we now are – just say’n Were the current rules not designed with efficient oversight and eligibility verification in place? All the goop of a new bill.. que paso?

    Did this system pay for the ‘influx’ of illegal aligns from mars? Did it buy ‘hotels’? Were those in need from mars cared for at the cost of Arizona tax payers ? before the Arizonan who paid into the system.. just ask’n.

    Who was the most paid entity – and so on – to put a face on the spending… who’s being paid for what – and what is that ‘greatest expense’ there must be statistics – or NOT? meaning stewardship was NOT. So the system is itself its own problem? So lets refund it.. and say ‘these words will assure this’… am I a bit skeptical ? NNNOOO NOT AT ALL…

  7. Hobbs asked for a 7.5% spending increase to the program. That’s all Dems and RINOs care to do, just take our money and grow their power.

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