Secretary Kennedy Advances MAHA Agenda in Arizona with Focus on Prevention, Recovery, and Tribal Health

PHOENIX-APRIL 8, 2026-U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. traveled to Arizona this week as part of his "Take Back Your Health" tour, meeting with leaders across health care, independent living, and recovery to drive a prevention-focused agenda.

"Arizona is putting prevention at the center of American health care," said Secretary Kennedy. "By prioritizing recovery, nutrition, physical fitness, and personal empowerment, providers across this state are driving a shift from a reactive sick-care system to a true health care system that delivers better outcomes for the American people."

On Saturday, April 4, Camelback Recovery in Peoria welcomed Secretary Kennedy on a tour of the facility's residential treatment campus for its programs to bring individuals struggling with addiction onto the path of sustained recovery. Secretary Kennedy then joined Camelback Recovery chief executive and co-founder Tim Westbrook to record an episode of the I Love Being Sober podcast before a live audience celebrating living substance-free. They discussed Secretary Kennedy's work to date as co-chair of President Trump's Great American Recovery Initiative.

"It was an honor to host Secretary Kennedy at Camelback Recovery and share the work we're doing to support long-term, sustainable recovery," said Westbrook. "Addiction is not a short-term issue - it requires a comprehensive, whole-person approach that includes community, purpose, and continued support. We're encouraged to see this level of leadership focused on shifting the conversation toward prevention, recovery, and real outcomes."

On Monday, April 6, Secretary Kennedy visited Ability360, a Center for Independent Living (CIL) in Phoenix serving Americans with disabilities. The Secretary participated in a roundtable with chief executive Christopher J. Rodriguez and other Ability360 leadership. He toured the site's unique sports and fitness center, which provides adaptive sports, recreation, aquatic, and fitness programs that promote the independence, health, and overall well-being of people with disabilities and their family members.

"Ability360 appreciated Secretary Kennedy's interest in the many supports, services and programs provided to the disability community by our organization," said Rodriguez. "We thank him and his team for taking the time to have a thoughtful dialogue about the importance of Medicaid Home and Community Based Services and the need to strengthen the longevity of those supports."

Secretary Kennedy on Tuesday, April 7, engaged with health care officials across the state. He visited the Banner Sports Medicine High Performance Center in Scottsdale to meet with their chief executive Amy Perry and chief clinical officer Dr. Marjorie Bessel for an overview of the site's programs designed for athletes of all levels in addition to anyone looking to improve performance, health, and overall fitness. Banner's leadership highlighted their work on preventive care, including the Children's Healthmobile providing pediatric care to underserved communities and their BIG Pink Bus mobile mammography unit.

"As a nonprofit health system, every dollar we earn is invested into our care, services, technology, talent and communities," said Amy Perry, president and chief executive officer of Banner Health. "We're honored to share our early detection and prevention programs with Secretary Kennedy and demonstrate how providing care and insurance coverage together create a more financially sustainable approach to American health care. With premium dollars and a value-based care approach, we can change the cost curve by funding early detection and chronic disease management. We believe this nonprofit, fully integrated model of community health investment can serve as a blueprint for health systems across the nation."

At the Marana Health Center in Tucson, Secretary Kennedy joined Congressman Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06) and Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA) Administrator Tom Engels for a roundtable discussion with Arizona health care executives about the importance of prevention in reversing the country's chronic disease crisis. Secretary Kennedy touted the approximately $155 million in fiscal 2025 funding Arizona received from HHS via its Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Secretary Kennedy and HRSA Administrator Engels announced more than $135 million in new HRSA funding opportunities for 350 health centers to expand access to nutrition services and food-based interventions within primary care settings. They also announced 15 HRSA grants for new rural residency programs in high-need specialties, including family medicine, internal medicine, psychiatry, OB-GYN, general surgery, and preventive medicine. Physicians who train in rural settings are significantly more likely to practice there, helping address workforce shortages.

"It was an honor to join Secretary Kennedy at this roundtable and bring together local leaders alongside a fearless advocate who has championed our shared goal of making America healthy again," said Rep. Ciscomani. "This discussion was an invaluable opportunity to collaborate on how we can advance that mission across Southern Arizona, from supporting our children to strengthening care for seniors in our communities. I am proud of the work our health care leaders are doing in our communities and appreciated learning more about the unique talents and services each of these industry professionals bring to serve our region. I thank the Secretary for taking the time to hear directly from our community and for helping elevate the needs of Arizona's Sixth District and beyond at the federal level."

Secretary Kennedy concluded his Arizona "Take Back Your Health" trip on Wednesday, April 8 in Chandler where he delivered the keynote address at the Tribal Self Governance Conference to more than 1,500 Native American/American Indian leaders from across the country.

The Secretary highlighted how HHS delivered for Indian Country in his first year - expanding staffing, incorporating traditional foods into the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and investing $1 billion investment to eliminate the 30-year IHS infrastructure backlog.

"Tribal nations know how to care for their people - and we are expanding their authority to drive better outcomes," said Secretary Kennedy. "At HHS, we are investing in infrastructure, incorporating traditional foods into federal nutrition policy, and delivering results in Indian Country while upholding tribal sovereignty."