Serious Mental Illness

Expanded Integrated Behavioral Health Model set to Launch Oct. 1

By |2017-02-10T09:49:08-07:00September 28th, 2015|Behavioral Health, Preparedness, Prevention|

People with a serious mental illness have increased mortality that is largely from treatable medical conditions caused by risk factors like smoking, obesity, substance abuse, and not accessing primary and acute medical care. Research demonstrates that outcomes are improved for individuals with a serious mental illness when their whole health care, both physical and behavioral, [...]

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5 Years of Behavioral Health Innovation Paying Dividends (Part III)

By |2017-02-10T09:49:41-07:00April 30th, 2014|Behavioral Health|

Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve reflected about some of the innovative strategies that we’ve implemented with our behavioral health community partners over the last several years to improve the health status of folks with a serious mental illness.  So far, I’ve covered integrated health homes and improvements to the crisis system. On the [...]

5 Years of Behavioral Health Innovation Paying Dividends (Part II)

By |2017-02-10T09:49:43-07:00April 22nd, 2014|Behavioral Health|

Over the next couple of weeks I’ll continue reflecting about some of the innovative strategies that we’ve implemented with our behavioral health community partners over the last several years to improve the health status of folks with a serious mental illness. Last week I wrote about the Integrated Health Homes initiative. Another success has been [...]

5 Years of Behavioral Health Innovation Paying Dividends (Part I)

By |2017-02-10T09:49:43-07:00April 15th, 2014|Behavioral Health|

People with a serious mental illness die more than 30 years earlier than people without those challenges.  Over the next few weeks, I’ll be reflecting about some of the innovative strategies that we’ve implemented with our behavioral health community partners over the last several years to improve the health status of folks with a serious [...]

And Now, the Rest of the State

By |2014-04-07T08:37:42-07:00April 7th, 2014|Behavioral Health|

Now that the transition to a new Behavioral Health Authority in Maricopa County is underway- we’re turning our attention to bringing integrated care to the rest of the state.  We’ll be working hard throughout 2014 to set the course for integrating behavioral health and physical health for folks with a serious mental illness as we [...]

Today’s Arnold v. Sarn “Fairness Hearing” a Success

By |2017-02-10T09:49:49-07:00February 27th, 2014|Behavioral Health|

A few weeks ago the Governor announced a final agreement had been reached in the 32 year old Arnold vs. Sarn case regarding care and services for individuals with serious mental illness. The Settlement is the foundation to end the lawsuit while establishing a blueprint for a successful community-based behavioral health system in Arizona.  This [...]

Next Stop On the Due Process Express

By |2017-02-10T09:49:57-07:00December 17th, 2013|Behavioral Health|

As Cory mentioned in his blog last week, the ADOA recently affirmed our award of the Maricopa County integrated behavioral health services contract to Mercy Maricopa Integrated Care and lifted the Stay on transition activities. The Order from ADOA marked one more step in the process of implementing an integrated care model for folks living with a serious mental illness in Maricopa County.   Magellan [...]

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Integrated Care Responses On Deck

By |2017-02-10T09:50:47-07:00January 8th, 2013|General|

We all need to take care of both our physical and behavioral health needs in order to be healthy. The mind and body aren't separated- and neither should the health-care delivery system- especially for folks with a serious mental illness. Folks with a serious mental illness die more than 25 years earlier than the general [...]

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Integrating Physical & Behavioral Health Services to Save Lives

By |2017-02-10T09:50:55-07:00October 11th, 2012|Behavioral Health|

We all need to take care of both our physical and behavioral health needs in order to be healthy. The mind and body aren't separated- and neither should the health-care delivery system- especially for folks with a serious mental illness. Folks with a serious mental illness die more than 25 years earlier than the general [...]

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Watershed Week for Behavioral Health Services

By |2012-05-17T14:06:45-07:00May 17th, 2012|General|

The Governor and I and the plaintiffs in the 1981 Arnold v. Sarn lawsuit signed a landmark agreement today which will last 2 years (pending the court’s approval).  Today’s agreement outlines objectives for supported care and services for folks with a serious mental illness.  Over the next couple of years we’ll work together with the [...]

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