Behavioral Health – Page 12 – AZ Dept. of Health Services News

Another Acronym?

By Will Humble|2017-02-10T09:50:49-07:00December 6th, 2012|Behavioral Health|

This is one to remember. SBIRT is an acronym for a behavioral health intervention that stands for “Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment”. The technical definition is “ … a comprehensive, integrated, public health approach to the delivery of early intervention and treatment services for persons with substance use disorders…” A more metaphorical (is that [...]

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Outcomes: Public Health’s Lighthouse

By Will Humble|2017-02-10T09:50:55-07:00October 16th, 2012|Behavioral Health, General|

One of our primary objectives over the last couple of years has been to shift the focus of our performance measures away from process and procedures toward actual outcomes. In other words, we don’t want to measure our success on whether someone’s paperwork is right, but on whether the services we provide actually help folks achieve [...]

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Medicare’s Open Enrollment Period begins today

By Will Humble|2017-02-10T09:50:55-07:00October 15th, 2012|Behavioral Health, General|

October 15 to December 7 is when ALL people with Medicare can change their Medicare health plan and prescription drug coverage for 2013. Information on 2013 plans will be available beginning in October. People with Medicare can call 1-800-MEDICARE or visit www.medicare.gov for plan information. If a person is satisfied that their current plan will meet [...]

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AZ’s Future Essential Health Benefit Package

By Will Humble|2017-02-10T09:50:55-07:00October 12th, 2012|Affordable Care Act, Behavioral Health|

The future health insurance exchange plans (as well as most other commercially available plans) will need to offer a standardized (state-specific) Essential Benefit Package once the Affordable Care Act kicks in on 1/1/14. There are 10 key service categories that future plans will need to cover- including behavioral health services. States were responsible for picking [...]

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Integrating Physical & Behavioral Health Services to Save Lives

By Will Humble|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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Protect Your Family – Get Rid of Drugs

By Will Humble|2017-02-10T09:50:58-07:00September 28th, 2012|Behavioral Health, Preparedness, Prevention|

Prescription drugs serve a very important purpose in health care, when they’re used the right way. That’s why physicians have to write the prescriptions – doctors who are trained to understand the purpose of the medication as well as the patient’s tolerance and the possibility of interactions. However, too many times, we keep medication after [...]

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What’s Happening in Behavioral Health

By Will Humble|2017-02-10T09:50:59-07:00September 26th, 2012|Behavioral Health|

The Acting Deputy Director of Behavioral Health gives a great overview of the Division and its mission in his blog today. Take a look and bookmark the site for future news.

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Rules Rollin’ Along

By Will Humble|2012-09-26T08:32:39-07:00September 26th, 2012|Behavioral Health, Licensing|

Our regulatory reform effort in Licensing is rolling along. We’ve already held rules work group meetings with representatives from behavioral health inpatient and residential facilities and are incorporating the Stakeholder comments into our next iteration of our draft rules. In November, we’ll start holding rules work group meetings with representatives from behavioral health outpatient settings. This’ll truly [...]

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Working Together

By Will Humble|2017-02-10T09:50:59-07:00September 24th, 2012|Behavioral Health, Licensing|

I've written many times about how important it is that we work with our partners to protect the health and safety of the people of Arizona. It’s our responsibility to take advantage of opportunities to teach and practice what we preach. It’s nice when someone outside acknowledges when someone goes above and beyond which is [...]

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State of the Hospital

By Will Humble|2017-02-10T09:51:00-07:00September 12th, 2012|Behavioral Health|

A few weeks ago Cory Nelson did his in-person “State of the Hospital” presentations. Many of you were able to attend one and we really appreciate the dialogue and feedback we got. It’s impressive to see how much work our hospital team has accomplished in the past year.

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