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This fall, Maricopa County voters have a significant opportunity to invest in the health and well-being of our community by voting YES on Proposition 409.
While MCMS is a nonpartisan association, we alongside with the Arizona Public Health Association (AZPHA), support efforts that align with our mission to strengthen healthcare access, protect the physician workforce, and improve infrastructure for the delivery of care. From that lens, Proposition 409 represents a critical, nonpartisan investment in our public health future.
Valleywise Health, Maricopa County’s only public teaching hospital and serves as an essential lifeline for many of our most vulnerable neighbors. It is also a vital training ground for the next generation of physicians. However, Valleywise’s aging facilities are no longer equipped to meet the growing needs of our community.
Proposition 409 would authorize $898 million in bonds to modernize and expand Valleywise Health, including:
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Doubling inpatient and observation capacity
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Rebuilding and upgrading emergency, trauma, and behavioral health units
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Replacing outdated care facilities like the Phoenix Comprehensive Health Center
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Expanding training environments to better prepare future medical professionals
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Supporting underserved neighborhoods and behavioral health services
This measure would also protect the system’s ability to meet its legal obligation to conduct court-ordered mental health evaluations, a crucial gateway to treatment for those in crisis.
This is a mail-in-only election for Maricopa County voters. We encourage all residents, especially healthcare professionals, to review the facts, understand what’s at stake, and participate.
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At MCMS, we are committed to help keeping our medical professionals and healthcare allies in the know especially when critical, once-in-a-generation opportunities arise to secure the future of care in Arizona.
-Desire'e Hardge, MBA
MCMS CEO and Executive Director
Editor-in-Chief Arizona Physician
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Check out AZPHA's blog article below for more information and how you can sign up to support Proposition 409.