Publication: Wednesday , June 11, 2025
Publication Authors: Brianna Rooney, Joyce Hospodar, Jill Bullock, and Dan Derksen
This Arizona Center for Rural Health (AzCRH) brief summarizes the Community Health Needs Assessments (CHNAs) of 11 of Arizona’s 17 federally designated Critical Access Hospitals (AzCAHs) and compares it to the statewide Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) assessment. Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), all 501(c)(3) hospitals must demonstrate they provide a community benefit and complete a CHNA every three years. CAHs then describe community health needs in their service area and select three to five to prioritize in their implementation plan. Each CAH is required to collect input from individuals in the community, public health experts, residents, representatives, and leaders of low-income and minority populations. The AzCAH CHNAs shared seven health priorities with the ADHS Statewide Health Needs Assessment: 1) healthcare access, 2) care for the aging population, 3) chronic disease management, 4) child and family health, 5) primary and dental care, 6) mental and behavioral health services, and 7) substance use disorder. These priorities reflect a comprehensive approach to rural health, grounded in both the immediate needs of AzCAH communities and long-term strategies for improved community health.