Serious Mental Illness

Inside the Governor’s Budget

By |2017-02-10T09:51:20-07:00January 25th, 2012|Behavioral Health, Newborn Screening|

Dr. Nelson wrote a great blog this week that discusses the behavioral health aspects of the Governor’s 2012 State of the State Address which was followed by the release of her policy agenda called The Four Cornerstones of Reform: Centennial Edition.  Please visit Dr. Nelson’s blog for the details of the Governor’s remarks about behavioral [...]

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Sharpening the Axe

By |2017-02-10T09:51:24-07:00December 19th, 2011|Behavioral Health, General|

There's a well-known quote attributed to Abe Lincoln that goes something like this: "Give me 6 hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first 4 sharpening the axe."  Maybe somebody will someday quote me as saying:  "Give us 20 months to transform the delivery of behavioral health and primary care services to address the [...]

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The ABC’s of Medicare

By |2017-02-10T09:51:35-07:00August 29th, 2011|Behavioral Health, Licensing|

By now you know all about our goal of improving integration of care for individuals with a serious mental illness.  In looking more closely at this population, we noticed that about 50% of folks with a serious mental illness who are enrolled with Medicaid (AHCCCS) are also enrolled in Medicare… meaning that they’re “dual eligible.” [...]

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State Comparison of Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health

By |2017-02-10T09:51:37-07:00August 10th, 2011|General|

A new report is out that provides a state-by-state comparison of a wide range of behavioral health issues. Every state has to deal with some significant challenges with mental illness and substance abuse.  For example, among people 12 and older, Alaska’s current illicit drug use rate more than double that in Iowa (13% versus 5%), [...]

Step Up to the Plate

By |2017-02-10T09:51:38-07:00July 15th, 2011|General|

It’s time to step up to the plate if you’re interested in providing clear and concise information about how best to integrate primary and acute healthcare with behavioral health care for folks with serious mental illnesses in Arizona.  One of our top priorities in behavioral health over the coming years will be to better integrate [...]

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Behavioral Health Services in Maricopa County

By |2017-02-10T09:51:44-07:00June 12th, 2011|Behavioral Health|

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 [...]

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Health Homes Planning Grant Approved

By |2011-04-05T08:50:33-07:00April 5th, 2011|General|

Last week I wrote about how we and AHCCCS applied for a Health Homes Planning Grant from the US Dept. of Health & Human Services to improve the health status of folks with serious mental illnesses by improving case management, care coordination, health promotion, transitional care, individual and family support, referral to necessary services, and the [...]

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Health Homes Planning Grant

By |2017-02-10T09:51:51-07:00March 31st, 2011|General|

Awhile back the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released preliminary guidance to state Medicaid agencies (AHCCCS) regarding a new federal funding opportunity to coordinate and integrate primary, acute, behavioral health, and long term supports for folks with chronic illnesses.  The guidance encouraged state Medicaid agencies to work with partners to provide technical assistance for [...]

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Next Fiscal Year’s Budget Series

By |2017-02-10T09:51:59-07:00January 24th, 2011|Behavioral Health, General|

On January 15, 2011, the Governor released her proposed budget for next fiscal year, which begins July 1, 2011. Our part of the budget in the link above is on pages 105 through 111.  You kinda need to be a budgeteer to understand some of it, so I’ll try to distill it down a little [...]

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Action Plan for Integrating Acute & Behavioral Health Care

By |2017-02-10T09:52:02-07:00November 18th, 2010|Behavioral Health, Prevention|

Arizona citizens with a serious mental illness have a life expectancy that’s 30 years less than the general population.  These folks don’t die early because of their mental illness; rather, they die from preventable physical health conditions like obesity, smoking, lung disease, stroke and heart disease.  That’s why the Department is partnering with the Milbank [...]

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