How to become a Medicaid provider in Arizona
To bill Arizona Medicaid, enroll through AHCCCS Provider Enrollment Portal (APEP), run by None — AHCCCS runs provider enrollment and its own claims system in-house. The process has 5 steps, listed below with the documents the state asks for.
- Enrollment portal
- AHCCCS Provider Enrollment Portal (APEP)
- Steps
- 5
- Documents
- 6
- Plans listed
- 8
On this page
Arizona Medicaid enrollment at a glance
To bill Arizona Medicaid, enroll through AHCCCS Provider Enrollment Portal (APEP), run by None — AHCCCS runs provider enrollment and its own claims system in-house. The process has 5 steps, listed below with the documents the state asks for.
- Program
- Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS)
- Enrollment portal
- AHCCCS Provider Enrollment Portal (APEP)
- Fiscal agent
- None — AHCCCS runs provider enrollment and its own claims system in-house
- Application fee
- AHCCCS charges the enrollment fee to non-individual provider types at enrollment and can charge it again at revalidation; AHCCCS lists $750 for calendar year 2026, matching Medicare's fee. Federal rule (42 CFR 455.460): the state must collect the CMS application fee from institutional providers that are newly enrolling or re-enrolling; individual physicians and non-physician practitioners are exempt, as are providers already enrolled in (or that already paid the fee to) Medicare or another state's Medicaid/CHIP. CMS set the fee at $750 for calendar year 2026.
- Fingerprinting
- AHCCCS requires the fingerprint-based criminal background check (FCBC) only for high-risk provider types. Federal rule (42 CFR 455.434, 455.450(c)): providers the state places in the 'high' categorical risk level, and anyone owning 5% or more of such a provider, must submit fingerprints for a criminal background check.
- Site visit
- AHCCCS applies site visits to moderate- and high-risk provider types, at enrollment and at revalidation. Federal rule (42 CFR 455.432, 455.450(b)-(c)): the state must do site visits before and after enrollment for providers in the 'moderate' or 'high' risk levels, and any enrolled provider must allow unannounced on-site inspections.
- Revalidation
- AHCCCS requires revalidation every four years (stricter than the federal five) and may call for off-cycle revalidation; providers get 90 days from notice or their enrollment is terminated. Federal rule (42 CFR 455.414): every enrolled provider must be revalidated at least once every 5 years.
- Provider manual
- Provider manual
Steps
- Create an AHCCCS account in APEP through User Registration
- Complete each provider-type-specific step of the application and upload one document of each requested type
- Pay the enrollment fee (non-individual providers), complete any site visit (moderate/high risk) and fingerprinting (high risk)
- Submit the application; AHCCCS says most are processed within 60 days and enrollment is effective on approval unless a retroactive date is requested
- Contract with and get credentialed by each AHCCCS health plan you want to serve
Documents the state asks for
Joining managed-care plan networks
- Credentialing
- Most AHCCCS members are in health plans. After registering with AHCCCS, providers contract with each plan separately; each plan credentials and re-credentials its own network, but AHCCCS policy (AMPM 950) requires plans to use the single Credential Verification Organization contracted by the Arizona Association of Health Plans (AzAHP), so primary-source verification is shared. Plans must confirm AHCCCS registration before finalizing a contract. Centralized credentialing: partly — one shared CVO for verification, with contracting still done plan by plan.
- Plans (state list)
- Arizona Complete Health - Complete Care Plan
- Banner-University Family Care
- Molina Healthcare
- Mercy Care
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Health Choice
- UnitedHealthcare Community Plan
- DES/Division of Developmental Disabilities (ALTCS-DD)
- Mercy Care DCS Comprehensive Health Plan
Frequently asked questions
How do I become a Medicaid provider in Arizona?
To bill Arizona Medicaid, enroll through AHCCCS Provider Enrollment Portal (APEP), run by None — AHCCCS runs provider enrollment and its own claims system in-house. The process has 5 steps, listed below with the documents the state asks for.
Is there an application fee to enroll in Arizona Medicaid?
AHCCCS charges the enrollment fee to non-individual provider types at enrollment and can charge it again at revalidation; AHCCCS lists $750 for calendar year 2026, matching Medicare's fee. Federal rule (42 CFR 455.460): the state must collect the CMS application fee from institutional providers that are newly enrolling or re-enrolling; individual physicians and non-physician practitioners are exempt, as are providers already enrolled in (or that already paid the fee to) Medicare or another state's Medicaid/CHIP. CMS set the fee at $750 for calendar year 2026.
How often must Arizona Medicaid providers revalidate?
AHCCCS requires revalidation every four years (stricter than the federal five) and may call for off-cycle revalidation; providers get 90 days from notice or their enrollment is terminated. Federal rule (42 CFR 455.414): every enrolled provider must be revalidated at least once every 5 years.