Arizona State and Local Government Documents Collection

In early 2009, an Exploratory Committee was formed to investigate the potential creation of a Veterans Court in Maricopa County, Arizona. The Committee’s initial efforts have focused on examining existing Veterans Courts and determining the size and scope of the problem (i.e., the number of veterans in the county jail). This report provides an overview of information on veterans in the Maricopa County Jail System, drawing on data collected by the Arizona Arrestee Reporting Information Network (AARIN). This report is intended to assist the work of the Veterans Court Exploratory Committee.

This special topic report examines the prevalence and characteristics of co-occurring substance abuse and mental health problems among adult arrestees in Maricopa County. The findings suggest that more than 28 percent of adult arrestees in Maricopa County are at risk for a co-occurring disorder, and they face significantly greater difficulties across a number of critical factors, including incarceration, homelessness, and victimization. Understanding the prevalence and particular characteristics of the dual-diagnosed arrestee population in Maricopa County is an important part of assessing demands on behavioral health and substance use treatment resources. Additionally, examining some of the current defining characteristics of this population relative to arrestees not dually diagnosed can serve as an indicator of future demand.

This special topic report examines the prevalence and characteristics of co-occurring substance abuse and mental health problems among juvenile detainees in Maricopa County. The findings come from the Co-occurring Disorder Addendum used during 2007. The findings reveal that almost 30 percent of juvenile detainees were at risk for a co-occurring disorder, and face significantly greater difficulties across a number of critical factors, including incarceration, homelessness, and victimization.

The analysis plan and the format of this report are derived from numerous meetings held over more than an eighteen month span with the AARIN project advisory board, Maricopa County leadership, and representatives from JPD. Following the guidance of the advisory board, the dissemination strategy for the AARIN project shifted from a single, broadly scoped annual summary report supplemented by smaller topic-specific reports into shorter, individual reports tailored to the specific needs and wants of six key county criminal justice agencies. Meetings with JPD representatives regarding their individualized report indicated they would be most interested in a broad analysis akin to the traditional AARIN annual reports. A key modification to this broad traditional analysis strategy, this report compares juvenile detainees in three categories of probation history – never served probation (or not in the past 12 months), served probation in a county other than Maricopa, and served probation in Maricopa County, each defined for either lifetime or the past 12 months, ultimately yielding six analysis categories. Each of the three probation categories are mutually exclusive within a given time period (i.e. lifetime and past 12 months). Given the JPD’s need for the broadly scoped analysis as opposed to a topically-focused and interpretive report, the report here primarily provides analyses across most of the core instrument elements, presented in tabular form, with a list of key findings and highlights.

The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System has provided home and community-based services to long-term care beneficiaries through a waiver from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services since 1989. Through its Arizona Long Term Care System, AHCCCS provides comprehensive coverage for members residing in their own homes or approved alternative residential settings, such as assisted living facilities or group homes. Covered services include care such as home health nursing, attendant or personal care, and home-delivered meals. Members may designate a family member or friend to provide attendant care; after completion of training, these caregivers can be paid by AHCCCS.

The potential impact of diabetes on the Arizona Long Term Care System is of significant concern to AHCCCS. Based on this and previous studies conducted by AHCCCS, the prevalence of diabetes among ALTCS members is approximately 20 percent. With the number of Arizonans age 65 and older increasing 40 percent in the last decade, the proportion of ALTCS members with diabetes is likely to increase as well.

This report includes data on preventive health and chronic disease management services provided to members enrolled with nine publicly and privately operated managed care organizations, referred to as Contractors, that contract with AHCCCS to provide services under the AHCCCS ACUTE-care program. Performance measure results for services provided through the Department of Economic Security’s Division of Developmental Disabilities are reported in a separate section of the report. Results should be viewed as indicators of utilization of services, rather than absolute rates. These data allow AHCCCS and its Contractors to identify areas for improvement and implement interventions to increase the use of preventive and evidence based chronic disease management services.

The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) is the State's Medicaid and KidsCare program offering the following behavioral health services: Title XIX (Medicaid) Acute and Long Term Care, Acute Care, Arizona Long Term Care Services (ALTCS), Federal Emergency Services Program (FESP), and Title XXI (KidsCare).

For more information concerning comprehensive medical services and additional information regarding behavioral health services refer to the AHCCCS Medical Policy Manual.

While virtually all children have contact with the health care system at some point, many problems may not be detected until children enter school. By offering low-income families and children access to health care and a regular point of contact, the AHCCCS program is uniquely positioned to provide high-quality, comprehensive preventive services that help assure the healthy development of children.

This report analyzes Contractor Performance Indicators in three perinatal areas: 1) Low Birth Weight Deliveries; 2) Prenatal Care in the First Trimester; 3) Initiation of Prenatal Care. The results of this analysis should be viewed as indicators of access to services, rather than absolute rates for how well AHCCCS and/or its Contractors provide care.

This report includes results for the measurement period from October 1, 2000, through September 30, 2001. Results of the indicators are reported in aggregate by urban (Maricopa and Pima counties) and rural areas, and by individual Contractors that provide services to Medicaid recipients.