ArMA President Meets With Governor Hobbs About Arizona’s Worsening Healthcare Workforce Shortage

July 3, 2023

PHOENIX, Arizona — The Arizona Medical Association’s 132nd President, William C. Thompson IV, MD, FASA, met with Governor Katie Hobbs to voice the association’s concerns about the state’s worsening healthcare workforce shortage and to introduce the Healthy Arizona Workforce Coalition, a new collaborative effort between local healthcare stakeholders.

Arizona’s healthcare system is currently short more than 14,000 registered nurses and 3,500 physicians, according to a report by the Arizona Board of Regents. By ABOR’s estimates, the shortage will significantly grow within the next decade unless swift action is taken now.

“There are many creative, feasible solutions for addressing Arizona’s physician shortage, and chief among those is an increase in funding for graduate medical education,” stated Dr. Thompson. “We know that physicians are most likely to practice medicine in the state where they completed their specialty training. To retain the talented students graduating from our state’s medical schools, we must create more postgraduate training opportunities.”

Healthcare stakeholders, hospitals, medical schools, and our state government all have a central role to play in mitigating and solving Arizona’s healthcare workforce shortage. From fostering positive workplace culture to increasing postgraduate training opportunities, every actor within the healthcare system has a responsibility to contribute to the shortage’s solution.

“It was a great honor to meet with Governor Hobbs and have a meaningful discussion about the ways our state can collaboratively address the workforce shortage, which impacts the health and well-being of every Arizonan,” said Dr. Thompson. “A solution to a challenge of this magnitude will require all of us working together.”

As an organization, ArMA’s purpose is to advocate for physicians and the patients they care for, which is why the association is proactively leading an effort to address the healthcare workforce shortage.

The Healthy Arizona Workforce Coalition, also known as HAWC, was created by ArMA through grant funding from the Arizona Department of Health Services. The coalition is comprised of local healthcare stakeholders, including ADHS, the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, the Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry, and more than a dozen other organizations. Together, the coalition is crafting short-, mid-, and long-term solutions in areas identified as being pivotal to remedying the state’s workforce shortage, including education, workplace culture, retention, and recruitment.

“Arizona’s healthcare workforce shortage is dauntingly complex, so it’s crucial that the healthcare community comes together to coordinate its efforts,” stated Libby McDannell, CEO of ArMA. “As the largest physician-led organization in the state, ArMA is proud to be at the forefront of this much-needed initiative. We are committed to moving the needle and securing the workforce our healthcare system needs to deliver compassionate, optimal patient care today and in the future.”

As Arizona’s population swells, the stakes for ensuring residents have appropriate access to health care increase. HAWC’s member organizations are determined to ensure the demand for health care is met, and the coalition looks forward to continued collaboration with community partners, as this is an issue that impacts us all.

“In the medical community, we not only understand but see firsthand the gravity of Arizona’s workforce shortage every day,” said Sara Salek, MD, co-chair of HAWC. “Our members are united by a passion for ensuring patients’ access to care, and that passion shines through in the coalition’s every discussion. Together, we are mobilizing to achieve a paramount goal, and we won’t stop until we see it through.”

ADHS Issues Standing Orders for Flu, COVID-19 Vaccine Access

By Admin User • September 18, 2026
Statewide orders keep pharmacists and physicians authorized to vaccinate Arizonans amid uncertainty over the next ACIP meeting. Statewide Orders Cover the 2026-27 Flu & COVID Season The Arizona Department of Health Services has issued statewide standing orders supporting access to the 2026-27 influenza and COVID-19 vaccines approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Arizonans seeking a flu or COVID-19 vaccine should contact their physician or pharmacy to confirm availability. Why the Orders Were Issued Arizona pharmacists may administer vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, vaccines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for international travel, or vaccines authorized under a prescription, including a physician-issued public health standing order. With the timing of the next ACIP meeting uncertain, ADHS worked with the Arizona Board of Pharmacy to issue statewide standing orders for the flu and COVID-19 vaccines, which function as a prescription allowing pharmacists and physicians across Arizona to administer them to anyone who wants one. ADHS Medical Advisor Weighs In "Vaccines are one of the most important tools we have to protect our communities. The Influenza and COVID-19 vaccines have been proven safe and effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death. Vaccines help us limit the spread of disease, reduce pressure on our healthcare system and reduce costs," said Dr. Richard Carmona, ADHS public health medical advisor and the 17th U.S. Surgeon General. "We have issued these standing orders to ensure safe and timely access to the vaccines in alignment with scientific and evidence-based guidance." What Arizonans Should Know The standing orders do not require every pharmacy to offer vaccinations, and they do not guarantee insurance coverage for administration. Coverage and out-of-pocket costs vary by plan, so Arizonans should check with their insurance provider before scheduling an appointment. 

Arizona Asks Supreme Court to Halt Prison Health Care Takeover

By Admin User • September 18, 2026
State attorneys seek an emergency stay after lower courts reject bids to delay receivership of the prison health care system. State Makes a Last-Ditch Appeal Attorneys for the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry asked the U.S. Supreme Court this week to delay a court-ordered receivership of the state's prison health care system. The request comes after both a federal district court and the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals declined to pause the takeover. In the recent application, former U.S. Solicitor General Paul Clement, a representative of the department, argued that the state deserves more time to make its case before surrendering control of its operations, including oversight of its employees and health care budget. Roots of the Case The dispute began in 2012 when inmates sued the department, alleging the prison system's inadequate medical, mental health, and dental care amounted to cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment. The case went through years of litigation and a failed settlement agreement. In 2023, U.S. District Judge Roslyn Silver ruled that the health care system was "grossly inadequate." The court ordered the prison healthcare system to comply with more than 150 "quality indicators," but according to court-appointed monitors, the department failed to comply with 131 of the measures. In light of this finding, Silver named Annette Chambers-Smith, former director of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, to take over as receiver effective Oct. 19. Arguments on Both Sides Clement argues receivership should be the last resort and that Silver moved to it too quickly. He asserts that the department has made measurable progress, including growing its health care staffing by more than 50%, expanding substance-use treatment access, and adopting a new care model. Corene Kendrick, deputy director of the American Civil Liberties Union National Prison Project, which represents the roughly 25,000 people incarcerated in Arizona prisons, called the department's request a "Hail Mary" and said Silver had given the department years of opportunities to comply before ordering receivership. What Happens Next The Supreme Court has not yet set a deadline for the plaintiffs to respond to the stay request. Separately, the 9th Circuit is now reviewing the merits of the receivership order itself. The department filed its opening brief on Sept. 15, and the plaintiffs' response is due Oct. 15. Information in this article was sourced from the Arizona Mirror .