Proposition 100
Next Tuesday is the Special Election for Proposition 100. It’s a 3-year, 1 cent sales tax that would benefit education, public safety and health services. According to Section 149 of the budget bill that was passed last session, “If proposition 100 is not approved by the voters at the May 18, 2010 special election, notwithstanding any other law, the following state [...]
Mental Health Awareness Month
We’ve come a long way since the days of institutionalization and separation from community, the stigma and bias associated with mental illness, but we're not where we need to be yet. Reducing the stigma and bias against those facing mental health challenges is a tall order, but it can be done. Efforts to increase public awareness and understanding of mental [...]
Abortion Reporting
The Legislature passed (and the Governor signed) a new law this past session that expands the number of reportable fields for abortion procedures that occur in Arizona. There are about 17 reportable fields and new reporting requirements for complications that occur as a result of the procedure. All of the data is confidential and there are no personally identifiable patient fields that are reported. The [...]
Tucson Women’s Clinic v. Eden
Back in 1999, a law was passed and signed (ARS § 36-449.01 36-449.02 36-449.03) that required ADHS to license and inspect abortion providers if they provide 5 or more first-trimester abortions in a month or if they provide any 2nd or 3rd trimester abortions as an abortion clinic. Hospitals were exempted. The Tucson Women’s Clinic sued the ADHS director (Cathy Eden) to prevent the Department [...]
Arizona Stroke Research
Dr. Ben Bobrow, our EMS Medical Director is at it again, with yet another publication that positively measured the value and effectiveness of another public health intervention. Ben and his team published this month in Stroke and demonstrated that telemedicine is incredibly valuable for saving lives in rural and remote communities, by giving rural and frontier health care providers critical [...]
New Behavioral Health Service Package
Our behavioral health team has completed work on the new behavioral health service package for our folks that are receiving services but don't qualify for AHCCCS benefits. We've posted a Guidelines Fact Sheet or you can view ADHS guidance to contractors regarding services to Non-Title XIX members with serious mental illness, services to individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis and support [...]