ALTCS stands for Arizona Long Term Care System, which is a division of Arizona’s Medicaid agency (Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System or AHCCCS).  ALTCS pays for long-term care services (skilled nursing and home and community-based services) for qualified individuals, which is a burdensome expense for most families. A recent national study suggested that up to 70% of Americans will require long-term care services during their lives. The cost of long-term care is high, and in fact, the average cost of a shared skilled nursing room in Maricopa County is approximately $8,000/month. Most are unable to sustain this high financial burden on their own. This is why so many Arizonans turn to ALTCS to help pay for long-term care.