Public Health Journalism this Week
Feds caution Arizona about long Medicaid call center wait times (azcentral.com) State discovers flaw in Ducey Admin era DCS system used to determine children’s removal from homes | Arizona Capitol Times (azcapitoltimes.com) Why so many Arizona mental health providers don’t take insurance (azcentral.com) Community health centers often offer therapy, psychiatric care (azcentral.com) Flagstaff voters will decide on hospital rezoning, court rules (azcentral.com)
Upcoming Arizona State Hospital Events, Reports, & Deadlines
Members of the legislature, stakeholders and especially family members with loved ones at the ADHS’ Arizona State Hospital became increasingly frustrated with the lack of transparency at the Hospital during the directorships of Christ & Herrington. ADHS leadership’s refusal to participate in the Arizona State Hospital Independent Oversight Committee (IOC) meetings (or provide the committee information) compelled the legislature to pass SB1444 directing the agency to actually attend IOC meetings,
HHS Names 1st 10 Drugs Up for Negotiation Under Medicare
This Reform is Welcome – but Far from the Transformative Change Needed to Keep the Medicare Trust Fund Solvent For the last 20 years, all Americans have been getting ripped off by pharmaceutical companies. The heist began when a prescription drug benefit was added for Medicare enrollees (Medicare Part D). Drug company lobbyists made sure Congress wrote the law to prohibit Medicare from negotiating drug prices. As a result, Medicare
Member Profile: Diane Wasley
by Kelli Donley Williams / Diane Wasley I had the chance to meet Diane several years ago. She reached out to Will before an annual conference to see if someone would be her “buddy.” She was studying public health at NAU and wanted to attend and learn, but she is autistic and knew she’d be overwhelmed in the crowd. Diane is shy, and at times struggles to make decisions. She
Register & Nominate for Our Upcoming Annual AZPHA Awards Event!
Thursday, October 26, 2023 5:00pm – 8:30pm Outdoor Courtyard at the Maricopa Medical Society 326 E Coronado Rd #101, Phoenix, AZ 85004 Tickets are only $60 and includes a full taco bar from Senor Taco with protein taco fillings plus beans, rice, guacamole, chips, tortillas & additional pre-rolled tacos. Hosted Bar service by Top Shelf Bartenders includes wine, beer and soft drinks. Register Today _________________________ Please take a moment to nominate colleagues
Update on Excess Pandemic-Related Deaths in Arizona
Allan Williams, MPH, PhD While the death toll from the Covid pandemic is usually measured by Covid deaths, these deaths do not reflect the full impact of the pandemic on mortality. A more complete measure of pandemic-related deaths includes all causes of excess mortality during the pandemic. AZ has had the unfortunate distinction of leading the nation in the percent of excess pandemic-related deaths during 2020 -2022 compared to pre-pandemic