Behavioral Health

/Behavioral Health

Behavioral Health covers topics dealing with mental health in our state. This ranges from information about programs to help individuals have good mental health to Governmental topics like Regional Behavioral Health Authorities.

Behavioral Health Contract Protest Hearing Set

By | August 2nd, 2013|Behavioral Health|

In May the Arizona Department of Administration (ADOA) issued a “Stay Order” for the planned transfer of our Maricopa County Behavioral Health Authority from Magellan to Mercy Maricopa Integrated Care.  In June the ADOA decided to ask the Arizona Office of Administrative Hearings to conduct an official hearing regarding the October 1 contract award. This week, [...]

Yarnell Hill and Kingman Dean Fire Responses

By | July 8th, 2013|Behavioral Health, Preparedness|

With one of the worst wildfire tragedies in history happening last weekend, our Health Emergency Operations Center was active all week.  First making sure that there was enough behavioral health support through the Regional Behavioral Health Authorities, then helping provide some specific assistance to the shelters in Prescott and Wickenburg.   On Tuesday, we pulled special beds [...]

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Response to Yarnell Hill Fire and Firefighter Deaths

By | July 1st, 2013|Behavioral Health, General, Licensing, Preparedness|

We are mourning the tragic deaths of 19 firefighters at the Yarnell Hill Fire.  We're working through the Northern Arizona Regional Behavioral Health Authority to help the firefighters and community there to deal with the loss of life and the speedy evacuation in front of the fire.  The loss of most of the Granite Mountain Hot Shot team [...]

Our Newest Decision-making Tool

By | June 24th, 2013|Behavioral Health|

The core of our decision-making as an agency relies on evidence.  Evidence can be scientific like surveillance or research or it can be administrative or financial.  Whichever way you slice it- the key is to get good reliable information so that our teams can make effective decisions as we execute our mission.   One of the [...]

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Regulatory Reform in the Home-Stretch

By | June 21st, 2013|Behavioral Health, Licensing|

Our Licensing & Rulemaking teams have spent the better part of 18 months working with hundreds of folks from numerous associations and licensed facilities as part of our regulatory reform initiative.  We’ve been overhauling 18 Articles of regulations for Healthcare Institutions and Behavioral Health Service Agencies including hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, outpatient surgery and treatment centers, recovery [...]

Budget Squared Away

By | June 20th, 2013|Behavioral Health, General|

As you’ve probably seen, the Legislature went into a special session and worked some long hours to pass a FY 2014 budget.  While we’re still analyzing everything, here are some key provisions of the budget bill as it was sent to the Governor.  Medicaid (AHCCCS) will be restored and expanded.  This will be a big [...]

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Doce Pit Fire

By | June 19th, 2013|Behavioral Health, Licensing, Preparedness|

The dry conditions in the Prescott National Forest have provided great fuel for the wildfire that started there yesterday.  You can monitor conditions on the Forest website.  And don't forget to check in with the state's Emergency Information Network. We play a significant role in response where there are wildfires in Arizona – our licensing [...]

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Maricopa County Behavioral Health Contract Update

By | June 19th, 2013|Behavioral Health|

Last week the AZ Department of Administration decided to ask the Arizona Office of Administrative Hearings to conduct an official hearing regarding our October 1 contract award for the Regional Behavioral Health Authority in Maricopa County.  You may remember that the ADOA issued a stay last month that stopped the transition process.  We received a notice [...]

Maricopa County Behavioral Health Contract “Stayed”

By | May 24th, 2013|Behavioral Health, General|

Earlier this week the Arizona Department of Administration issued a “Stay Order” for transition related activities connected with the transfer of our Maricopa County Behavioral Health Authority from Magellan to Mercy Maricopa Integrated Care.  This isn’t uncommon during protests, and the Stay wasn’t issued on the merits of the award protest.  It’s more of a [...]

Healthcare Innovation – 2

By | May 15th, 2013|Behavioral Health, Prevention|

I’ve been writing quite a bit about population health and the importance of creating healthy environments for communities.  Some of those innovations take creativity and cash to make them work.  Help is on the way - today, the feds announced the Healthcare Innovation Awards – Round 2. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services put [...]

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