Phoenix City Council Approves Controversial Medical Restrictions in Parks

May 13, 2026

ArMA, Others Speak Out Against New Restrictions

Following months of debate, the Phoenix City Council last week approved a controversial ordinance that will restrict certain medical services, including the administration of street medicine, at public parks.


Ordinance Restricts Medical Services

The ordinance, which goes into effect on June 5, will now require that volunteer medical organizations — including Circle the City and Street Medicine Phoenix — operate under a tent or in a mobile medical vehicle and obtain a permit for conducting medical treatments in the park. The ordinance also limits the number of permits available to two per park every month.


In addition to imposing permit caps, the ordinance also prohibits the distribution of harm reduction kits, including the injection of naloxone. It does not prohibit the distribution or administration of Narcan nasal spray, and it does carve out exemptions for certain circumstances, including for medical emergencies.


Anyone found in violation of the ordinance will face a class one misdemeanor, which threatens a $2,000 fine or up to six months in jail. They could also be temporarily banned from applying for future permits to conduct medical services in parks.

 

Healthcare Community Highlights Serious Negative Impacts of the Ordinance

The Arizona Medical Association, local physicians, and other healthcare advocates expressed fierce opposition to the ordinance during its public comment period. Together, we highlighted how the ordinance's permit cap functionally prohibits evidence-based street medicine, which patients experiencing homelessness often rely on for routine and preventative care.


By limiting licensed medical professionals' ability to treat vulnerable populations where they are, the ordinance will lead to the escalation of preventable conditions, forcing patients into the city's already overwhelmed emergency rooms. This concern is especially relevant as Phoenix faces another season of extreme and deadly heat.


The physician community supports efforts to make city parks cleaner and safer for families, especially regarding sharps disposal, which is in line with the goals of street medicine. However, the ordinance will decrease the presence of licensed medical professionals, who are trained to thoroughly and safely discard used sharps, in public parks.


Physicians Urge Officials to Reconsider Language

ArMA and the physician community are disappointed in the City Council's decision to approve the ordinance as written without further discussion among stakeholder groups. We urge city officials to revisit the language before its implementation.

By working with physicians, community medical groups, and other stakeholders, the city can craft an ordinance that will keep public spaces safe and protect the patients who depend on care delivered within them.


To learn more or apply for a permit, visit the City of Phoenix's website here.


Information in this article was sourced from Arizona Family.

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 .