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.

This is the sixth annual assessment of influenza immunizations and pneumococcal vaccinations. This report analyzes Arizona Long Term Care System (ALTCS) Contractor performance.

Results of this study were based on measurements of a select group of members who were continuously enrolled from September 1, 2001, through April 30, 2002. The results did not include members who were not eligible to receive Medicare, those who received acute care services only, those who enrolled into ALTCS after December 1, 2001, or those who expired during the measurement period.

Results for the current measurement period are reported as relative changes from the previous measurement period, where applicable. The report also indicates whether this change is statistically significant, that is, whether the change is probably true and not merely due to chance.