Investigation Finds Neglect and Inadequate Health Care in Arizona Prisons

Last night Al Jazzera America aired a special report about privatized health care in Arizona prisons.

An investigation by the program America Tonight found dozens of cases of medical neglect.

Arizona’s system is currently run by Corizon Health, Inc., the largest private prison health care provider in the country. Now one of its former employees is blowing the whistle about its failures.

Former Corizon patient care technician Teresa Short’s claims are backed up by other studies. The American Friends Service Committee reported last October that medical spending in Arizona prisons dropped by $30 million after Arizona privatized prison health care. They also found that there was a sharp rise in inmate deaths.

The American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit in 2012 claiming that health care in Arizona’s prisons now amounts to cruel and unusual punishment. The suit cites examples of officials telling prisoners to pray to be cured and to drink energy shakes to alleviate cancer symptoms.

You can watch the videos of the Al Jazeera report in the post below.

New VA Clinic to be Built in Gilbert

The Department of Veterans Affairs has approved a building contract for a new health clinic in Gilbert. The 60,000-foot,  two-story building  near Mercy Gilbert Hospital will house outpatient services for more than 19,000 veterans each year in Maricopa County and parts of Gila and Pinal County.

Arizona Hospitals With Lowest Death Rates

A consumer information group has released a list of hospitals with the lowest death rates among emergency room patients. About a dozen Arizona hospitals are among the best in the country.

The report lists 263 of the country’s top performing hospitals. These hospitals had a 41% lower risk-adjusted mortality than all other hospitals.

The Arizona hospitals on the list include Banner Baywood Medical Center in Mesa, Banner Desert Medical Center in Mesa, Banner Gateway Medical Center in Gilbert, Tucson Medical Center, the Mayo Clinic Hospital in Phoenix, and St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix.

The consumer group says that if all hospitals performed at the level of these hospitals, an additional 170,000 people could have potentially survived their emergency hospitalization.

Click here for the full list.

Workshop for Dementia Caregivers

A five-session workshop to develop skills needed to care for someone with dementia or memory loss will be held next month in Globe. There is no charge but seating is limited and pre-registration is required.

At the workshop you will learn about dementia and its impact, how to manage frustration and stress, how to communicate with your loved one, and how to take better care of your own health.

To participate you need to be providing an average of four or more hours of care or supervison a day.

Respite assistance may be available to help caregivers attend the workshops.

The program is a partnership of the Alzheimer’s Associaition, Pinal-Gila Council for Senior Citizens, Arizona State University and the Arizona Department of Economic Security.

For more information call the Alzheimer’s Association at 602-528-0545 Ext. 210.

Researchers Link Low Vitamin D Levels to Depression

Researchers at the UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas have linked low levels of vitamin D to depression. Science Daily reports that the findings suggest that it might be useful to screen for vitamin D levels in depressed patients—and perhaps to screen for depression in people with low vitamin D levels. But the study did not determine if increasing vitamin D levels reduces depression.

Low vitamin D levels are already considered risk factors for other medical problems, including cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, diabetes, certain cancers; and neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.

AZ Senate Committe Votes to Kill Medicaid

An Arizona Senate Committee has voted to eliminate the state’s Medicaid program. The bill would replace it with a much smaller system for only a fraction of low income people now served.

The Senate Appropriations Committee voted 8 to 5 to drop the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System. Supporters say it is financially unsustainable.

The program currently serves about 1.3 million people, or about 1 in 5 Arizonans. A proposed replacement would serve less than 10% of that.

KOLD reports that dropping Medicaid would cost the state about $7.5 billion in federal funding.

Opponants say the funding loss would devastate the health care system and close hospitals, especially in rural areas.

Governor Proposes Dropping 280,000 from Medicaid Coverage

Governor Jan Brewer says that the state has no choice but to drop Medicaid health care coverage for about 280,000 low income adults. This would be done by lowering eligibility standards to federal minimums. Brewer says the alternative would be to cut programs and services even further, or risk losing the entire Medicaid program.

KTAR in Phoenix reports that reducing the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System’s enrollment would save more than $560 billion. The plan would need both authorization from the Legislature as well as the Obama administration.

Brewer’s proposed Medicaid cutback would roll back much of the enrollment increase authorized by voters ten years ago.

Second Person Dies After Losing Transplant Coverage

A second person has died after being denied transplant coverage by Arizona. The unidentified person died on December 28 at another medical facility after earlier being removed from University Medical Center’s list for a liver transplant.

Arizona reduced Medicaid coverage for transplants on October 1 as part of cuts in the state budget.

Medicare Enrollment Event at Globe Senior Center

Globe Senior Center is hosting a Medicare Enrollmnt event tomorrow (Thursday) starting at 9:am. It will help you with your Medicare coverage choices, including prescriptions.

Then at 11:00 the Crossing Hospice will present information about hypertension and take your blood pressure.

If you attend the workshops, lunch is free. Please make a reservation in advance by calling 425-9030.

Medicare Open Enrollment Begins Today

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is encouraging all Medicare beneficiaries to take advantage of the annual Open Enrollment Period to make sure you have the best coverage available to meet your needs in 2011.

The Medicare Open Enrollment Period begins today (November 15) and continues through December 31. Duing this period, current or newly eligible Medicare beneficiaries can compare health and drug plan options available in your area and choose the best coverage that meets your needs.

To find out more about coverage options call 1-800-MEDICARE or visit www.medicare.gov.

Public Forum About Adult Foster Care

Pinal/Gila Long Term Care presents a public forum tomorrow (Tuesday) at 1:pm. The goal is to increase the types of community-based settings in the area by providing alternatives to institutionalized health care. A panel of experts will be there to give information and answer questions about adult foster care homes.

Arizona Receives $1.2 Million to Help People Navigate Health Care Options

The US Department of Health and Human Services has announced that grants of more than $1.2 million have been awarded to Arizona. The funds will help seniors, people with disabilities and caregivers better understand health care options and help them navigate through the system.

Specifically, the money will be used to help families understand their Medicare and Medicaid benefits, including coverage for preventative services; help them find longterm care options; and to transition from nursng or rehabilitation facilities back home.

AHCCCS Cuts Go Into Effect This Week

Health benefits for low income Arizonans enrolled in the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System will be significantly cut effective this week. This includes coverage for physicals, most dental care, podiatry, some organ transplants and other programs. Benefits for medical equipment such as insulin pumps and hearing aids will also be affected.

The cuts take effect on Friday. Administrators say they are necessaery to deal with the state’s budget crisis.