The question of whether Arizona is a good place to operate a SNF starts here with our newest edition of State-by-State, which examines the business and regulatory climate for providers in any given state. This time it’s Arizona’s turn.

To start the series off, Mark Parkinson interviews Dave Voepel, CEO of the Arizona Health Care Association, and discovers some surprises in the course of the video chat.

Voepel outlines what many outsiders may not realize about Arizona, like the fact it is not a certificate of need state, has a rather small number of SNFs (141) in favor of a multitude of assisted living communities, and enjoys a collaborative management model with managed care plans, state regulators, and the legislature, even if Medicaid reimbursement is a challenge.

Watch the first episode on Arizona here.

Comments or questions? Contact Patrick Connole at pconnole@parkplacelive.com.