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.

This report includes Performance Indicators for services provided to children and adolescents enrolled with AHCCCS acute-care Contractors (health plans). The results reported here should be viewed as indicators of access to services, rather than absolute rates for how successfully 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 the combined rural counties, as well as by individual Contractors. Results for the current measurement period are reported as a relative percentage change from the previous year. The report also indicates whether this change (increase or decrease) is statistically significant; that is, whether the change is probably true and not merely due to chance. The statistically significant value is calculated using the Pearson chi-square test.

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.

While this project measured whether members received a minimum of one Hb A1c test annually according to HEDIS criteria, clinical practice guidelines recommend Hb A1c testing at least twice a year for patients who have stable glycemic control and quarterly for patients who are not meeting glycemic goals. To further improve care and health outcomes for members with diabetes, Contractors should continue to focus on ensuring that members with diabetes receive Hb A1c tests and other preventive-care services at the recommended intervals.

The purpose of the Children’s Oral Health Performance Improvement Project (PIP) is to increase the rate of annual dental visits among AHCCCS members 3 through 20 years old, in order to make more progress toward AHCCCS and Healthy People 2010 goals. This project specifically focuses on children who are 3 through 8 years old, as this appears to be a critical time in a child’s life to ensure that he or she receives regular dental care. Contractors participating in this PIP include acute-care health plans, CMDP, DDD and health plans that serve elderly and physically disabled members through the Arizona Long Term Care System (ALTCS).

Data for the project were collected from AHCCCS administrative data (i.e., records of claims paid by Contractors, known as encounters). The remeasurement period was the contract year from October 1, 2003, through September 30, 2004.

The purpose of the Oral Health Performance Improvement Project (PIP) is to increase the rate of annual dental visits among AHCCCS members 3 through 20 years old, in order to make more progress toward AHCCCS and national Healthy People 2010 goals. As a first step, AHCCCS established a baseline measure of annual dental visits overall and by Contractor from which to measure improvement. This baseline measure also serves as the AHCCCS Annual Medical Audit.

Using methodology developed by the National Committee for Quality Assurance for the Health Plan Employer Data and Information Set, AHCCCS measured annual dental visits among members ages 3 through 8 (ages 3 through 20 years if enrolled in ALTCS) who were continuously enrolled during the measurement period. Data for the baseline measurement were collected from AHCCCS administrative data (i.e., records of claims paid by Contractors known as encounters). The measurement period was the contract year from October 1, 2001, through September 30, 2002.

The purpose of the Oral Health Quality Improvement Project (QIP) is to increase the rate of annual dental visits among AHCCCS members younger than 21, in order to make more progress toward AHCCCS and national “Healthy People 2010” goals. Using the following methodology, AHCCCS will establish a baseline measure of annual dental visits overall and by Contractor from which to measure improvement. This quality improvement project will focus on developing or improving interventions to help address factors that contribute to low utilization of dental services. In addition, this project addresses the AHCCCS requirement that acute and long-term care Contractors conduct Quality Improvement Projects. The baseline measurement period will be October 1, 2001, through September 30, 2002

This report includes Performance Indicators for preventive health care services provided to selected adults and adolescents enrolled with AHCCCS-contracted, acute-care health plans (Contractors). The four indicators are:
• Breast cancer screening
• Cervical cancer screening
• Adolescent well-care visits
• Adults’ access to preventive/ambulatory services

This report includes data for the period from October 1, 2000, through September 30, 2001 (and may include one or two previous years, depending on the indicator methodology). Results of the four indicators are reported in aggregate by Maricopa, Pima and combined rural counties, and by individual Contractors.

As part of a State initiative to develop a plan for providing Arizonans with affordable, accessible health insurance, the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System Administration undertook a qualitative data gathering effort to better understand the issues faced by rural practitioners and to ensure the implementation of effective strategies for enhancing the rural provider network. This study involving key stakeholder interviews was propelled by the recognition that any efforts to enhance the availability of coverage would be ineffectual if improvements were not made to the rural health care infrastructure including increasing the accessibility to health care providers.