In 2006, the Smoke-Free Arizona Act outlawed smoking within most enclosed public spaces and places of employment primarily to reduce the exposure of individuals to harmful secondhand smoke. The purpose of the Maricopa County Smoke-Free Parks Policy Assessment is three-fold: 1) to evaluate the extent and health impact of tobacco usage in public parks; 2) analyze smoke-free parks policies that have been proposed in cities, counties, and states nationwide; and 3) to assess the feasibility of introducing and implementing similar policies in Arizona, and in Maricopa County in particular.

The Maricopa County Department of Public Health and the Southwest Interdisciplinary Research Center at Arizona State University initiated an evaluation of ASU’s Tobacco-Free Campus policy, which went into effect on August 1, 2013. The purpose of this evaluation is to assess the impacts of this policy on the ASU community and environment. This report summarizes tobacco consumption patterns, norms and perceptions surrounding tobacco use, tobacco litter on campus, and overall benefits of a tobacco-free campus both before and after policy implementation.

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.

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 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.

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.

As a subset of the larger rural provider interview project, the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment Administration interviewed a small group of rural employers and employee benefit specialists who were considered to be major purchasers of health care in their rural communities. The project goals were to gain 1) a better understanding of the strategies used by these employers to ensure accessible and affordable coverage for their employees as well as themselves and 2) an insight as to the barriers these purchasers faced in providing health care to their employees.

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.

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.