The National Association of Manufacturers has moved to block a rule from the EPA that lowers the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) to 9 micrograms per cubic meter.

The NAM Legal Center has sued to block the ruling. The NAM and the EPA had a similar conflict in November. 

鈥淚n pursuing this discretionary reconsideration rule, the EPA should have considered the tremendous costs and burdens of a lower PM2.5 standard,鈥� NAM Chief Legal Officer Linda Kelly said. 鈥淚nstead, by plowing ahead with a new standard that is vastly more restrictive than any other national standard, including that set by the EU, the agency not only departs significantly from the traditional NAAQS process, but also gravely undermines the Biden administration鈥檚 manufacturing agenda鈥攕tifling manufacturing investment, infrastructure development and job creation in communities across the country. The NAM Legal Center is filing suit to protect manufacturers鈥� ability to obtain permits, expand facilities and pursue long-term investment plans, and defend our country鈥檚 competitive advantage.鈥�

The Clean Air Act mandates that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) conduct a review of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) every five years to assess the adequacy of the PM2.5 standard. 

Recently, the EPA performed an out-of-cycle reconsideration of this standard. In December 2020, after a comprehensive review, the EPA chose to maintain the PM2.5 standard at 12 micrograms per cubic meter. However, in June 2021, the agency announced its intention to revisit this decision. 

NAM submitted comments advocating for the retention of the current standard. The EPA has reported a 42% reduction in PM2.5 concentrations since 2000, attributing this decline to significant emissions reductions from various sources, including the mobile sector and power generation. 

Notably, the European Union鈥檚 standard stands at 25 micrograms per cubic meter, with a proposed reduction to 10 by 2030, while the United Kingdom aims to achieve a standard of 10 by 2040. 

The EPA acknowledges that a substantial portion (70%) of particulate matter originates from nonmanufacturing sources, such as wildfires (29%), agriculture and prescribed fires (15%), crop and livestock dust (12%), unpaved road dust (10%), paved road dust (3%), and general “dust” (2%).

Arizona business community: new standard undermines cooperative federalism

The Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry has been equally critical of the EPA鈥檚 new PM2.5 standard, saying it undermines the idea of cooperative federalism embedded in the Clean Air Act and replaces 鈥渃ooperation with an unrealistic and unattainable mandate.

鈥淎rizona and the Southwest face unique issues and should not be subjected to this ineffective, one-size-fits-all approach,鈥� Chamber President and CEO Danny Seiden said. 鈥淎rizona job creators believe in cooperative federalism and are good faith partners in efforts to improve air quality. But the federal government鈥檚 top-down regulatory approach will have real consequences for Arizona industries like manufacturing, mining, and agriculture, and jeopardizes permitting for new job-creating projects.鈥�

The Chamber last week hosted Joe Goffman, the head of EPA鈥檚 Office of Air and Radiation to discuss this and other EPA proposals that have the potential to constrain economic growth in the state.

Congressional delegation weighs in

Arizona U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego (D) wrote to EPA Administrator Michael Regan to urge the agency to acknowledge that some pollution is outside the control of the state.

鈥淓fforts to address air pollution in Arizona must focus on practical solutions that both account for the sources of pollution, including sources outside of impacted communities, and for ongoing efforts around electrification and environmentally conscious development,鈥� Gallego said in his .

鈥淲e appreciate Rep. Gallego鈥檚 decisive stand against EPA measures that unfairly penalize Arizona for emissions beyond our control,鈥� Seiden said. 鈥淭he Chamber supports his call for pragmatic solutions, recognizing that 80% of the pollution affecting our state originates elsewhere. We thank Rep. Gallego for his leadership and join him in calling for a balanced approach that fosters both environmental sustainability and economic growth.鈥�

U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) has partnered with Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) to introduce legislation to modernize the Clean Air Act to include permitting reforms that will encourage business and job growth.

鈥淎rizona is home to the resources and businesses that serve as the bedrock for the clean energy technologies of the future. Our bipartisan legislation responsibly updates the Clean Air Act to help develop new clean energy technologies, attract more businesses to Arizona, create strong jobs for Arizona families, and ensure clean air for generations to come,鈥� she said.

The Chamber supports the effort.

鈥淚ndustries in the region have demonstrated their willingness to act responsibly under the Clean Air Act, but we require a partner at the federal level who is equally committed,鈥� Seiden said.

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The on Tuesday released its fourth report in its Advancing America series, , which outlines the essential role of the natural gas industry in sustaining the operations of the American pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors. 

鈥淭he value natural gas brings to America鈥檚 pharmaceutical industry is tremendous,鈥� AGA President and CEO Karen Harbert said. 鈥淔rom the gloves and mask a surgeon wears, to the disinfectants used in hospitals, to the life-saving medicines Americans depend on and the bottles they come in, natural gas and other petrochemical molecules are indispensable.鈥�  

Highlights from the report include: 

• The pharmaceutical manufacturing industry in the United States sustains 1.8 million jobs, contributes to an economic output of $663 billion, generates $338 billion in GDP, and yields $30 million in state and local taxes.

• Businesses across the entire pharmaceutical manufacturing supply chain in the United States utilize more than 104 billion cubic feet of natural gas each year, equivalent to the annual natural gas consumption for all households in Missouri.

• A significant majority of adults, totaling 86%, believe that policymakers should prioritize reducing out-of-pocket healthcare expenses.

鈥淣atural gas is essential to putting downward pressure on pharmaceutical prices,鈥� Arizona Manufacturers Council Executive Director Grace Appelbe said. 鈥淲ithout it, drug manufacturing costs would spike, putting some medicines out of reach for too many and driving up healthcare costs broadly.鈥�

Manufacturing facilities of all types, including drugmakers, rely on natural gas for its 24/7 reliability and the delivery of stable heating and temperature control, which is critical to the development and storage of medicines. 

鈥淎s we learned during the pandemic with the rollout of the vaccines, undependable temperature controls harm a medicine鈥檚 potency and could make for life altering results,鈥� Appelbe said. 

The report found that facemasks, disposable gloves and syringes are also manufactured from petrochemical feedstocks like natural gas and are critical to combating the spread of disease. Petrochemical feedstocks are used for 129 billion facemasks, 300 billion medical gloves, and 979 million American vaccine syringes.  

鈥淭his report is a reminder that removing natural gas from the nation鈥檚 energy portfolio would have real-world consequences,鈥� Appelbe said. 鈥淲ithout natural gas鈥� reliability and contribution to lifesaving manufacturing, our country is less safe and less healthy.鈥�

Medical equipment and pharmaceutical manufacturers in Arizona include Dexcom, Medtronic, Roche Tissue Diagnostics, and Bristol-Myers Squibb, as well as major commercial pharmacies like Express Scripts.聽

Previous AGA reports in the series have examined natural gas鈥� contribution to the healthcare sector and to tourism and hospitality.

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The Arizona Board of Regents has taken a significant stride toward improving health care for residents of Arizona by giving its formal approval for the establishment of a new medical school at Arizona State University. The school is slated to open in fall 2026.

The move is a part of the initiative, a plan to grow the healthcare workforce of the state.

鈥淲e are focusing our full energy and innovation on improving Arizona鈥檚 health outcomes,鈥� ASU President Michael Crow said last year in announcing the plan to open the medical school. 鈥淲e must generate knowledge at a scale that will impact society. Our drives us to assume fundamental responsibility for the overall health of the communities we serve. This is an extension of that core belief.鈥�

ASU is taking an innovative approach with its new medical school by allowing students to complete two degrees: a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) and a master鈥檚 degree in medical engineering. 

Collaborative clinical partnerships will bolster research and academic programs, providing solutions aimed at enhancing patient care and healthcare outcomes.

The new school will be called the

Northern Arizona University is also planning on opening a new medical school and the University of Arizona is planning on doubling its medical school graduates. In addition to medical students, all three universities have plans to across the healthcare field, including nursing, physical therapy and health science programs.

鈥淎SU’s innovative medical and engineering program is poised to cultivate world-class physicians and secure a healthier future for our families and our state,” ABOR Chair Fred DuVal said. “This is a noteworthy achievement for the AZ Healthy Tomorrow initiative and will enhance access to care for all Arizonans.鈥�

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New legislation by state Rep. Matt Gress (R-Phoenix) proposes several policy changes to address the challenge of homelessness facing the state, including attempting to break the link between homelessness and drug use.

HB 2782 proposes:

• Implementing stricter penalties for drug traffickers operating within drug-free service zones.
• Holding facilities accountable for permitting on-campus drug activities by imposing charges.
• Establishing a $75 million permanent fund dedicated to Homeless Shelter and Services.
• Modifying funding allocations for homeless service providers contingent upon meeting performance benchmarks.
• Highlighting the necessity and significance of accurately collecting health and demographic data on the state’s homeless demographic.

鈥淭his legislation is an important step towards reducing chronic homelessness and drug-related

crime, ensuring that Arizona鈥檚 vulnerable populations are effectively supported while ensuring

public safety,鈥� Gress said. 鈥淓stablishing accountability within homeless service

zones will help safeguard our communities from drug-related crime and offer a more structured

and supportive environment for our homeless population to rebuild their lives.鈥�

Money in the proposed Homeless Shelter and Services Fund could be used for short-term shelter and transitional housing, and non-profit organizations and cities could acquire entire hotels for shelter purposes.

But the bill requires hoteliers to inform paying guests if that hotel is also housing the homeless by posting a sign at the reception desk that says: 鈥淭his business is being used to house homeless individuals alongside the general public. It is recommended that all guests keep hotel doors locked, safely store their belongings and report any health or safety concerns to local law enforcement.鈥�

The bill also lays out the required size of the sign and typeface. 

The bill would bar state or local dollars to be used for 鈥渕ixed hoteling,鈥� which refers to providing temporary lodging to homeless individuals while also providing regular hotel services to the general public.  

The Legislature last year passed a bill by Gress that would have prevented the state and local governments from mandating hoteliers to house individuals experiencing homelessness in exchange for a housing voucher. That bill was vetoed by the governor. 

This year鈥檚 bill has been assigned to the House Appropriations Committee, but it is not on this week鈥檚 meeting agenda. The bill would have to be heard in next week鈥檚 meeting, the last for the committee to consider bills introduced in the House.

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The Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry is speaking out against a proposal from the Biden administration that would permit the federal government to determine the price of pharmaceuticals or other innovations whose research and development was partially funded with federal dollars. 

The Chamber argues that such an expansion of so-called 鈥渕arch-in鈥� rights is a form of price controls that will disincentivize future research and lead to fewer lifesaving discoveries. 

鈥淲e have deep reservations over a proposal that would erode intellectual property protections and seek to impose price controls on lifesaving pharmaceutical innovations,鈥� the Chamber said in response to the Biden administration proposal that was published in the Federal Register in December. 

Responses are due this week. 

March- in rights 

March-in rights refer to the authority granted to the government to require a patent holder to make their patented technology more widely available under specific circumstances; an intervention known as 鈥渕arching in鈥� because the government steps in to assert its ability to dictate the technology鈥檚 use and availability thanks to partially funding its discovery and development. 

The Chamber argues that the White House鈥檚 proposal would undermine the 1980 Bayh-Dole Act, a law named for former U.S. senators Birch Bayh, D-Ind., and Bob Dole, R-Kan., that outlines the situations in which march-in rights can be exercised. 

Pricing is not one of those circumstances, says the Chamber. 

鈥淗owever, the cost of pharmaceuticals was never contemplated as an allowable circumstance to exercise the march-in provision. Doing so would be an unprecedented misapplication of Bayh-Dole,鈥� the Chamber says. 

State chamber opposes price controls 

Chamber President and CEO Danny Seiden says his organization opposes price controls on pharmaceuticals. 

鈥淲e鈥檒l oppose price controls on pharmaceuticals, whether they鈥檙e attempted via the legislative process or through the regulatory state,鈥� Seiden said. 鈥淚f drugmakers can鈥檛 have at least some confidence they can recoup their investment in life-changing and lifesaving innovation, why should they undertake such expensive and time-consuming research? If the government is going to dictate pricing, then it鈥檚 patients who will lose out.鈥� 

National groups weigh in

National groups like the National Association of Manufacturers and the US Chamber of Commerce sounded similar alarms over the administration鈥檚 proposal. 

NAM, which requested an extension of the filing deadline, wrote in December, 鈥淭he significant changes contemplated by the RFI would apply to all technologies, raising the spectre of government price controls on wide swaths of the American economy. The most profound impact of these changes will be felt by small and medium-sized manufacturers in critical sectors such as advanced manufacturing, semiconductor production, clean energy, advanced materials, life sciences and many others.鈥� 

NAM also said, 鈥淒isincentivizing small businesses from undertaking early-stage, potentially groundbreaking research could have a detrimental impact on job creation and innovation throughout the economy.鈥� 

The US Chamber, which also requested a deadline extension, led a coalition of groups opposing the administration鈥檚 draft guidance, writing, 鈥淭he potential changes to march-in rights could alter the landscape of intellectual property rights across all industries and have far-reaching effects on research, development, commercialization, and innovation.鈥� 

Seiden says the administration鈥檚 disregard of the nearly 45-year-old Bayh-Dole Act is extremely troubling. 

鈥淎s we said in our official response, if the administration doesn鈥檛 like Bayh-Dole, it should work with Congress to change it,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut just blatantly ignoring the law 鈥� and doing so to control drug prices 鈥� is likely a ticket to a lawsuit, and rightly so. This White House proposal punishes companies for bringing new innovations to market. The consequences will be severe.鈥�

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A new from the American Gas Association examines how natural gas affordably and reliably powers America鈥檚 healthcare system, whose demand for energy is constant.

Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) finds that 74% of hospitals utilize natural gas for space heating, while 80% rely on it for water heating purposes. Hospitals typically exhibit higher energy consumption per square foot compared to other commercial building types. Maintaining essential equipment like ventilators and ensuring proper lighting during surgical procedures requires a constant and dependable energy supply.

Hospitals undertake numerous energy-intensive operations including laundry, the utilization of medical and laboratory equipment, sterilization procedures, computer and server operations, food services, and refrigeration. All these activities require a consistent and dependable power supply around the clock. 

鈥淔or our hospitals to deliver world-class care to patients, we need reliable power from multiple sources,鈥� Health System Alliance of Arizona CEO Brittney Kaufmann said. 鈥淎ny interruption to a hospital鈥檚 power supply and its ability to serve patients could be catastrophic.鈥�

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, natural gas is roughly one-third the cost per-unit compared to electricity. This cost difference highlights how natural gas affordability plays a crucial role in ensuring cost-effective energy solutions for healthcare facilities nationwide.

鈥淭here鈥檚 no two ways about it 鈥� our energy saves lives,鈥� AGA President and CEO Karen Harbert . 鈥淭he affordability of natural gas is critical to keeping hospitals open and serving patients, particularly in rural areas where healthcare facilities often operate with limited resources and extremely low profit margins. America鈥檚 hospitals are part of our critical infrastructure 鈥� and vital to protecting the health of Americans in good times and when tragedy strikes. The irreplaceable role of natural gas in providing reliability to America鈥檚 healthcare system is why there are currently zero all-electric inpatient healthcare facilities in the United States.鈥� 

In the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States, the healthcare industry accounts for the largest portion of commercial and industrial energy usage. The availability of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power is restricted in these areas due to geographical factors and natural terrain. Additionally, these regions generally experience colder climates, leading to a heavier reliance on natural gas for both space and water heating.

The healthcare sector makes up 23.3% of all U.S. jobs and contributes $3.4 trillion in GDP and $274 billion in state and local taxes. 

Businesses in the healthcare system consume roughly the same amount of natural gas as the entire state of Utah at 271.6 billion cubic feet. 

Hospitals also rely on natural gas to power their operations during times of crisis. If all end uses were switched to electricity, the backup electricity generation systems would have to be substantially expanded to accommodate the heightened demands. This expansion, aside from adding expenses for hospitals, would result in an increased use of diesel fuel and lead to increased emissions of pollutants into the atmosphere.

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State and national business community advocates are blasting a proposal by the Biden administration that would dramatically curtail investment in lifesaving pharmaceuticals and other technological breakthroughs with the potential to solve some of society鈥檚 most vexing problems. 

The National Institute of Standards and Technology last week released its, a proposed rule that would allow the federal government to 鈥渕arch-in鈥� and remove a company鈥檚 patent protections if a medicine was developed with federal funding and if the drug in question is not available at what the government deems to be a reasonable price. 

鈥淟et鈥檚 be clear, seizing patents is a confiscation of property,鈥� U.S. Chamber Executive Vice President and Chief Policy Officer Neil Bradley said. 鈥淚f patents for medicine are seized today, what property will the government seize tomorrow?鈥� He went on to say the administration risks 鈥渄estroying America’s ability to discover the next breakthrough treatment or cure.鈥� 

NIST says their proposal is intended to uphold the principles of the Bayh-Dole Act. The 1980 law ensured that patents on scientists鈥� creations would not automatically revert to the government. Under the law, companies could secure exclusive patents if their creations were brought to market and made available under reasonable terms. The federal government has the authority 鈥� under limited circumstances 鈥� to force businesses and universities to license their inventions to additional companies if the federally funded product is not brought to market. 

In a in The Washington Post, the law鈥檚 authors, former Indiana Sen. Birch Bayh (D) and former Kansas Sen. Bob Dole (R), now both deceased, wrote, 鈥淕overnment alone has never developed the new advances in medicines and technology that become commercial products. For that, our country relies on the private sector. The purpose of our act was to spur the interaction between public and private research so that patients would receive the benefits of innovative science sooner.鈥� 

Commerce Sec. Gina Raimondo the NIST proposal is intended to 鈥渕aintain a balance between incentivizing companies to innovate and making sure those innovations serve the American people.鈥� Health and Human Services Sec. Xavier Becerra said, 鈥淢arch-in authority is one powerful tool to ensure that the American taxpayer is getting a fair return on their investment in research and development.鈥� 

The Bayh-Dole law, however, was silent on whether a new drug that came to market had to be available at a certain price. The authors said that was intentional. 

鈥淏ayh-Dole did not intend that government set prices on resulting products,鈥� the senators wrote. 鈥淭he law makes no reference to a reasonable price that should be dictated by the government. This omission was intentional; the primary purpose of the act was to entice the private sector to seek public-private research collaboration rather than focusing on its own proprietary research.鈥� 

Under the new proposal, however, price could determine whether the federal government would be permitted to 鈥渕arch-in鈥� and eliminate a company鈥檚 exclusive patent, a new interpretation of Bayh-Dole that Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry President and CEO Danny Seiden sharply criticized.

鈥淭he proposal released by the Biden administration under the guise of lowering drug costs will do nothing of the sort and is just the latest attempt by the federal government to misuse the Bayh-Dole Act to deceptively institute its harmful drug price controls,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he administration fails to recognize the real victims of its unprecedented drug pricing schemes: the entrepreneurs and startups who will be dissuaded from developing new inventions, and the patients who will lose out on lifechanging and potentially lifesaving pharmaceuticals due to fewer new drug developments and fewer clinical trials.鈥� 

The new Bayh-Dole proposal from NIST comes on the heels of the Medicare drug pricing scheme in the Inflation Reduction Act that the Arizona and U.S. chambers also opposed.

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Convenience store and gas retailer QuikTrip announced recently that it is investing more than $3 million in local nonprofits and public safety associations in an effort to partner with the City of Phoenix to address issues such as theft, crime, substance abuse, and homelessness.聽

The company’s investment will support various first responder organizations across the Valley, including the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association, Phoenix Police Foundation, and Phoenix Police Sergeants and Lieutenants Association. QuikTrip has also extended its reach to organizations addressing homelessness and addiction, notably partnering with the Phoenix Rescue Mission and Sojourner Center. 

Mayor Gallego praised QuikTrip’s initiative, emphasizing the importance of collective action in resolving such pressing challenges and applauding QuikTrip’s support for nonprofits aiding those facing homelessness and addiction. 

鈥淎t the City of Phoenix, we know that it鈥檚 always better to tackle a problem together, as opposed to on one鈥檚 own. That鈥檚 why, as Phoenix continues allocating and deploying critical resources at breakneck speed, I am grateful for QuikTrip鈥檚 partnership and their support of local non-profits who are serving Phoenicians facing homelessness and addiction,鈥滸allego . 鈥淚 appreciate QT鈥檚 ongoing work with us to address our community鈥檚 most pressing challenges, and hope this partnership inspires many more to come.鈥� 

Gallego was joined by a bipartisan group of legislators for the announcement, including Arizona State Reps. Laura Terech (D), Matt Gress (R), and Justin Wilmeth (R). 

Since its arrival in Phoenix in 2000, QuikTrip has grown to 115 stores and 3,249 employees in the metro area. 

鈥淲e are honored and grateful that QuikTrip has partnered with PLEA Charities to support our officers. We look forward to the ongoing collaboration and joint efforts in the years ahead,鈥� PLEA President Darrell Kriplean said. 

These partnerships focus on enhancing public safety and supporting law enforcement efforts. QuikTrip鈥檚 recent sponsorship of the annual charity fundraiser Superhero Saturday will aid officers injured in the line of duty or facing illness. 

In addition to law enforcement support, QuikTrip maintains longstanding alliances with organizations like Valley of the Sun United Way and Child Crisis Arizona. Child Crisis Arizona CEO Torrie Taj acknowledged QuikTrip’s significant role in providing essential services for at-risk youth in foster care. 

鈥淐hild Crisis Arizona is grateful for our wonderful partnership with QuikTrip. This incredible investment will allow our agency to provide vital resources, shelter, and support for teens and young adults, an underserved population in foster care in our state,鈥� Taj said. 

QuikTrip’s community relations manager, Lauren Sherry, highlighted that these contributions are part of a larger mission to combat complex issues facing the Phoenix metro area. 

鈥淲e have seen the incredible difference these groups are making by providing critical services that address the root causes of homelessness, addiction, and crime,鈥� Sherry said. 鈥淏y supporting their efforts, we are proud to play a role in creating a safer, stronger, and more prosperous community for all of Phoenix.鈥�

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The Valleywise Health Medical Center is set to open its doors in April 2024, a state-of-the-art medical facility poised to revolutionize healthcare in Phoenix, Arizona. The new facility replaces the venerable, half-century-old legacy hospital currently at 24th Street and Roosevelt.

Valleywise Health engaged in a workshop focused on climate resilience, adaptation, and mitigation in early 2018, subsequently incorporating the recommendations into their operational practices.

Valleywise Health is dedicated to reducing its energy consumption and its carbon footprint. They aim to secure renewable energy via power purchase agreements, and their system-wide upgrades prioritize sustainability, encompassing LED lighting, efficient air distribution, and the use of high-performance glass in construction and operations.

Envisioned by the Cuningham Group Architecture, Inc and built by Kitchell, this monumental structure spans 10 floors, encompassing a staggering 673,000 square feet. Boasting 233 private patient rooms, 44 ICU rooms, 10 operating rooms, and an array of specialized facilities such as the Arizona Burn Center, Cardiology, Oncology, and more, the center was designed to cater to a diverse spectrum of healthcare needs.

The medical center has many departments and specialized units, such as the Trauma and Emergency Department with its 85,906 projected annual ER visits by 2026, and the Diane & Bruce Halle Arizona Burn Center. 

Beyond its role as a healthcare provider, Valleywise Health is dedicated to community integration and education. The recently completed Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust Pavilion, equipped with cutting-edge facilities for clinical education and community engagement, further solidifies the institution’s commitment to fostering learning and collaboration.

As a public teaching hospital and Level 1 trauma center, Valleywise Health not only serves as a beacon of medical excellence but also as a symbol of inclusivity and care for the underserved. Its range of services, including primary HIV care, support for refugee women’s health, and behavioral health centers, underscores its mission to cater to a diverse community.

To learn more, please visit

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Northern Arizona University has announced it will launch the NAU College of Medicine. With this announcement, all three of the state鈥檚 public universities will have medical schools.

鈥淲ith the creation of NAU Health, we recommit ourselves to elevating our existing, exceptional health education programs with the goal of doubling the number of degrees awarded by NAU in the much-needed fields of nursing, health professions, and behavioral health and increasing provider availability in every nook and corner of the state,鈥�  NAU president Jos茅 Luis Cruz Rivera .

The foundation of the new medical school is part of the Arizona Board of Regents鈥� , a multifaceted approach to improving state health outcomes. The initiative includes three central goals: launch ASU and NAU鈥檚 new medical schools, double the number of graduates from UArizona鈥檚 College of Medicine, and increase the number of nursing and other health care graduates.

In partnership with the Governor鈥檚 Office, the board has also allocated $56 million to launch these initiatives. The new medical school and the financial investments 鈥渨ill close the historical healthcare gap so many Arizonans are experiencing,鈥� Gov. Hobbs last month on X, formerly known as Twitter,

ABOR also recently voted to request $153 million from the Legislature in fiscal year 2025 for the initiative, as well.

鈥淭here is not a moment to waste as Arizona must train and deploy the health care professionals our fast-growing population requires,鈥� Fred DuVal, ABOR chairman.

Arizona struggles to compete nationally on healthcare outcomes and the state鈥檚 domestic medical workforce. According to the AZ Healthy Tomorrow initiative, Arizona by 2030 requires:

• 14,000+ new registered nurses,
• 3,600+ new physicians,
• 2,400+ new behavioral health workers,
• 1,100+ new dental hygienists,
• 900+ new physical therapists,
• and 800+ occupational therapists

Furthermore, 鈥渘early 3 million Arizona residents live where there鈥檚 limited access to primary care doctors,鈥� according to Dr. G. Richard Olds, president of St. George鈥檚 University medical school and a national expert on the physician workforce. This limited access to doctors hits rural areas particularly hard.

Danny Seiden, the president and CEO of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry, says a robust healthcare workforce is essential to the state鈥檚 economic growth.

鈥淗aving access to world-class health care providers helps attract job creators to Arizona,鈥� Seiden said. 鈥淭o know that each of the state鈥檚 public universities will have a medical school will not only help ensure Arizona can meet its health care needs, but it will be a major boost to our economic development prospects.鈥�

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