State Data Use Spotlight: Arizona

Many states struggle with collecting reliable and valid state-level data that can be leveraged to maximize the use of funds. This is particularly challenging when providing early intervention services in states where Medicaid uses clinic rates that are lower than the natural environment rates covered by state or federal Part C funds. This state spotlight presents various strategies that the Arizona Department of Economic Security's Arizona Early Intervention Program (AzEIP) used to identify the use of diverse funding sources at the program level and to encourage providers' use of Medicaid funding by enhancing the state's data system and acquiring a Medicaid rate increase for speech-language services. [This resource was developed by members of the NCSI Data Use Service Area Team in collaboration with Ardith Ferguson and Maureen Casey.]