Whooping Cough Just Across the River
California has had 6,400 + cases of whooping cough (pertussis) and 10 infant deaths so far in 2010, which is the highest number of cases they've had since the age of immunizations began (about 60 years ago). Meanwhile, Arizona has had 361 cases and no deaths in 2010 compared to 277 cases in all of 2009. Even with California's much higher population, [...]
Qualified Patient Applicants
One thing that folks have mentioned on my blog over and over is concern about who will need to submit fingerprints as part of their application under the AZ Medical Marijuana Act. Here’s the short answer: All applicants except a qualifying patient will need to submit a full set of fingerprints before getting a card or license. So the majority [...]
Behavioral Health Licensing Rule Change Suspended
A couple of weeks ago I planned to open the docket to overhaul the Administrative Code (Rules) that we use to evaluate and monitor health and safety in licensed behavioral health facilities in AZ. That plan was based on the assumption that the Medical Marijuana Act was going down to defeat because at that time it was trailing by several [...]
Medical Marijuana (Cannabis) Implementation Schedule & Info
By now you probably know that Proposition 203, the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act, appears to have passed after all (although the final determination will actually be made when the election is certified on November 29). The Act identifies ADHS as the organization that’s responsible for carrying out the provisions of the law. There will be several teams of folks here at [...]
Action Plan for Integrating Acute & Behavioral Health Care
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 Foundation to sponsor a day- [...]
ADES Offices Win National Nutrition Medals
Two ADES offices in Maricopa County were awarded Bronze Medals for the prestigious 2010 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Hunger Champion Award. The East Southern Office in Phoenix, and the Gilbert Office on W. Guadalupe both received the Bronze Award, and were chosen from DES offices all over the U.S. The USDA only gave out 23 awards nationally- so this is [...]