You'll remember that ADHS and AHCCCS jointly applied for and received a $750K Planning Grant to explore integrating primary health care and behavioral health care- especially for folks with serious mental illnesses. Our teams have been very busy over the last couple of weeks getting the initiative underway. One of the concepts we're exploring is a specialty Regional [...]
We recently extended our contract with the Regional Behavioral Health Authority in Maricopa County through September 30, 2013. We authorized the contract extension (which will be the 6th year of the contract) so that we can better serve our members and families while we hammer out the details of several new initiatives designed to improve [...]
Maricopa County Department of Public Health (and our Lab) confirmed a case of measles in an Arizona resident this week. Measles is one of the most communicable diseases there is (next to chicken pox). It’s a viral disease of the upper respiratory system that’s spread in the air via droplets. Measles starts with a fever [...]
By working closely with our behavioral health contractors over the last couple of years we’ve been able to make some significant improvements in the quality of care that we’re providing. Examples of our accomplishments are available in newly created outcome dashboards developed by CPSA, NARBHA, Cenpatico and Magellan. The dashboards provide monthly reports using web-based [...]
Last month we approved the renewal of the fifth and final year of the Magellan behavioral health contract in Maricopa County. Before making the decision to grant the 5th year of the contract, our team assessed the progress that has been made in various areas, including access to and coordination of care; grievance and appeal [...]
The West Nile virus is making its annual visit to Arizona. We’ve had several cases now in Arizona (and 1 death) - mostly from the East Valley in Maricopa and Pinal Counties. Most of these cases have the more severe form of West Nile virus which causes meningitis or encephalitis. We rarely hear of most cases because [...]
Congratulations to our Bureau of Nutrition and Physical Activity for their grant award announced this month from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials Leadership for Healthy Communities program. Over the coming year, we’ll be strengthening our capacity to make a dent in childhood obesity by conducting a health impact assessment to prevent childhood [...]
The MY LIFE program is an award winning approach to helping youth that have experience mental health, substance abuse and/or foster care-related issues to use their experiences, talents and voice to make positive changes in their lives while helping others to do the same. MY LIFE provides an excellent opportunity for youth to have an [...]
