BASIC PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES
WHEREAS: In Arizona there is a lack of unified public health operations among county health
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WHEREAS: All Arizonans do not have equal access to basic public health services and
WHEREAS: Standards which stipulate basic public health services have not been adequately articulated nor promulgated and
WHEREAS: Funding for public health services has continually been decreasing and
WHEREAS: Public health funding rather than public health need has determined the type and scope of service delivery and
WHEREAS: Diversity of services from one local health department to another exists
WHEREAS: There has been a lack of unified, coordinated statewide initiative to implement a much needed transformation and revitalization of the Arizona public health system;
AND WHEREAS: In some communities, AHCCCS providers refer AHCCCS clients to local health departments, which then bear the costs of such services, while AHCCCS providers still receive full payment;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT: A collaborative partnership be established between the Arizona Counties Health Officers Association (ACHOA) and the Arizona Public Health Association (AzPHA) to take the leadership role and to initiate and maintain a statewide coordinated effort to 4 ldentify initiate and maintain a statewide coordinated effort to identify BASIC AND RECOMMENDED SERVICES for Arizona’s public health system;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT: A legislative plan be developed which would result in statutory public policy changes to ensure ADEQUATE delivery of basic services among county health departments;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT: The drafted legislation propose that the State provide county health departments the funds necessary to:
(1) institute and maintain the delineated basic services;
(2) improve their capabilities to carry out the functions of assessment, policy development and assurance. Said funds could be derived by requiring a health-related increase in cigarette tax and/or liquor tax, similar to what has been accomplished in California and Michigan.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT: Within the drafted legislation county health departments be provided with adequate legislative support to carry out their responsibilities.
Such support would include the guidelines for county funding;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT: Within the drafted legislation, the funding for prevention services overall, be given a higher priority;
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT: It be proposed, within the drafted legislation, that AHCCCS channel funding to local health departments as contracted providers of selected primary care services.4
Approved by the AzPHA membership at the Fa11 Meeting, September 13, 199D.