The Arizona Legislature has overwhelmingly approved a big new assessment on hospitals as a way to get more money from the federal Medicaid program.
The proposal approved by the Senate Wednesday and previously passed by the House would assess hospitals about $350 million a year for services they provide to outpatients.
In return, hospitals, physicians and other providers would receive higher payments for caring for patients with Medicaid.
The higher payments are expected to eliminate an estimated $1 billion in unreimbursed costs.
The measure now goes to Governor Doug Ducey for consideration.