Pima Health System of Pima County administers the Assisted Living Facility (ALF) Programs. The following is a brief overview of the programs and services:

The Assisted Living program provides three types of services: The Adult Foster Care Program, the Assisted Living Home Program and the Assisted Living Center Program. These services are provided in the providers’ home or facility and licensure is required. Several levels of care have been developed which allow for individual acuity levels.

The client and his or her family members choose the setting where the client wants to reside. Clients and family members are provided with a list of available vacancies in contracted Assisted Living Facilities. Consideration of the client’s cultural, medical, functional, and psyco-social needs and the sponsor/manager qualifications should be considered by the ALF provider when determining acceptance of a client. The level of care is determined by the Case Manager when the client is placed in an Assisted Living Facility. Reimbursement to the provider is based on the level of care. Rates for reimbursement are established by Pima Health System and are evaluated yearly. Three levels of care are in place: Class I, Class II, and Class III. Class II and Class III have sub-categories to address both daytime and nighttime behavioral needs of members in the Adult Foster Care and Assisted Living Home settings. Additional categories to compensate for higher medical/functional needs and behavioral needs of members living in Assisted Living Centers are also in place.

Support services such as skilled nursing care, therapies, and transportation are a part of the service plan when authorized by the case manager and primary care provider.

The Assisted Living Facility Program is responsible for recruiting, screening, licensing, and monitoring Adult Foster Care Homes and the recruitment, screening, and monitoring of Assisted Living Homes and Assisted Living Centers that apply and contract with Pima Health System to provide Assisted Living Facility services. All three types of Assisted Living Facilities are monitored annually for compliance with the contract. AFC Homes are additionally monitored annually for regulatory compliance in accordance with licensure renewal. Additional announced visits are provided to assist the providers in meeting both the clients needs and regulatory requirements.

Adult Foster Care Homes:
Adult Foster Care (AFC) Homes provide supervision and care for 1 to 4 eligible adults in a family environment. The AFC sponsor and his or her family must live in the home. The AFC sponsor is licensed by Pima Health System through a delegation agreement with the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS). Sponsors must have completed the state approved training requirements for Assisted Living Facility providers and be in compliance with administrative, environmental, and personal care standards as established by ADHS and Pima Health System. All AFC sponsors are contract providers to Pima County for adult foster care services and are paid according to the contract agreement.

Assisted Living Homes:
Assisted Living Homes (ALH’s) are licensed by the Arizona Department of Health Services. These homes are licensed for up to 10 adults, depending on the size of the home. The ALH provider may or may not live in the home. Certified caregivers are usually hired by the ALH provider to meet the needs of the residents living in the home. ALTCS eligible clients may live in a state licensed Assisted Living Home if the home is under contract with Pima Health System. ALH contracted providers are paid for assisted living home services according to the Pima County Contract.

Assisted Living Centers:
Assisted Living Centers (ALC’s) are licensed by the Arizona Department of Health Services and provide assisted living services to 11 or more residents. This setting must provide individual residential units to qualify to contract with Pima Health System for assisted living center services for ALTCS members. The license issued by ADHS must indicate that "Units" are available. ALC contracted providers are paid for assisted living center services according to the Pima County contract.