PHOENIX (Aug. 25, 2025) – Banner Health is transforming care for hundreds of Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) members by ensuring crucial speech and swallowing therapies are now covered in-network. This vital expansion benefits patients with head and neck cancer, ALS, and Parkinson’s, conditions that significantly impact communication and nutrition.
Head and neck cancer affects nearly 2,000 Arizonans annually. Previously, patients with AHCCCS insurance faced a devastating gap in care as speech therapy wasn’t covered, forcing many to rely on feeding tubes for extended periods and permanently altering their ability to communicate. This gap severely diminished patients’ quality of life following their cancer diagnosis.
The critical barrier to care has now been eliminated thanks to the dedicated advocacy of two Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center team members in Gilbert, Ariz. Leah Mackie, a speech pathologist, and Sarah Glenn, associate director of rehabilitation services, successfully championed for Senate Bill 1741 to be included in the latest state budget. This landmark achievement expands AHCCCS coverage to include speech and swallowing therapy for adults over 21 years of age.
"It’s truly amazing to see how something as fundamental as speaking and swallowing can be restored for patients who have faced so much,” said Mackie. “This expanded coverage means we can help more people reclaim the quality of life they deserve. I am so grateful to be a part of this meaningful change.”
“When people have trouble swallowing, food and water can go into the lungs, causing aspiration pneumonia – which can be life threatening,” said Glenn. “So while the tubes were necessary, they could cost up to $20,000 per hospital stay. They were expensive and diminishing the patient’s quality of life. We knew a change was needed.”
Patients and oncologists at Banner MD Anderson testified before state committees about the benefits of this bill – including Mackie, who spoke several times, as well as Dr. Gary Walker, division chief for radiation oncology at Banner MD Anderson. Additionally, more than 900 people wrote letters to the state in support.
With the inclusion of SB1741 in this year’s budget, Mackie and Glenn said this will not only help head and neck cancer patients, but those in treatment for Parkinson’s, strokes, traumatic brain injury or ALS.
"This change is a testament to what can happen when our employees, advocates, and patients work together as one team,” said Jason Myers, chief operating officer of Banner Gateway Medical Center and Banner MD Anderson. “We remain committed to improving the outcomes for every patient we serve."
Banner Health's commitment to putting patients' needs first is exemplified through this initiative, which removes financial barriers to essential therapies that restore communication abilities and improve nutritional independence. By expanding access to these specialized services, Banner Health is helping patients regain their voice, their dignity, and their quality of life. This change is expected to save the state nearly $3 million a year and officially goes into effect for AHCCCS-insured patients in October.
About Banner Health
Banner Health is one of the largest nonprofit health care systems in the country and a leader in provider-sponsored health insurance serving 3.5 million people annually across six states. With 33 hospitals and more than 450 additional care sites, Banner’s array of services includes a health insurance division, employed physician groups, outpatient surgery centers, urgent care locations, home care and hospice services, retail pharmacies, stand-alone imaging centers, physical therapy and rehabilitation, behavioral health services, a research division and a nursing registry. To make health care easier, 100% of Banner-employed doctors are available for virtual visits and patients may also reserve spots at Banner Urgent Care locations and can book appointments online with many Banner-employed doctors. Headquartered in Arizona, Banner Health also has locations in California, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada and Wyoming. For more information, visit bannerhealth.com.
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