Medicaid Health Plans of America – 2011 Annual Meeting: November 6th – November 8th, Washington, DC – Booth 114

ST. LOUIS (October 13, 2011) – Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC) was awarded silver honors for health care consumer empowerment and protection by URAC, a leading healthcare accreditation organization, at the 2011 URAC Quality Summit and Awards Program held October 5-7 in Chicago. In addition to the silver medal for its respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) prevention program, the Company also received an honorable mention for its Nurse Response program, a 24-hour medical triage telehealth service. A program coordinator for Nurse Response was also honored with a URAC Health Care Stars! Award at the same event.

RSV is a serious childhood respiratory ailment and a leading cause of hospitalization of babies in the first year of life. Centene has developed a comprehensive care program to minimize RSV infections and protect high-risk infants. The Company’s Nurse Response disease management program promotes medication adherence among members with serious and persistent mental illnesses through telephonic counseling and by serving as an extension of the local healthcare provider’s practice.

“We are honored to receive recognition for our health education and preventive care initiatives,” said Mary Mason, M.D., senior vice president and Chief Medical Officer for Centene. “Our RSV prevention program educates members on this serious illness which if not addressed can lead to severe pneumonia or bronchiolitis with respiratory failure, adult asthma and even death. Likewise, Nurse Response, with its continuous accessibility, helps patients receive the appropriate care, at the appropriate place, at the appropriate time.”

A member of the Nurse Response team, Janel Striped-Wolf was honored with a URAC Health Care Stars! Award for “demonstrating a commitment to the welfare of health care consumers through saving and improving lives, preventing adverse health outcomes, and other positive changes.” Ms. Striped-Wolf has spent her career serving the seriously mentally ill and persons with disabilities. She has been an advocate for youth in the public school systems, tribal communities, and in the behavioral health system throughout the West.

This favorable attention comes on the heels of the Company winning gold recognition for its weight management publication and bronze recognition for two additional health education publications at the 2011 National Health Information Awards.

Centene was honored for publishing its weight management book, “My Route to Health,” which focuses on helping members change unhealthy habits that could potentially lead to dangerous health conditions. In addition, the company received recognition for its “Guide to Your Baby’s Care – The First Year” and “Super Centeam 5 Cookbook” books, which are all part of a larger health education program to help members take control of their health and manage chronic health conditions.

About Centene Corporation
Centene Corporation, a Fortune 500 company, is a leading multi-line healthcare enterprise that provides programs and related services to the rising number of under-insured and uninsured individuals. Many receive benefits provided under Medicaid, including the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), as well as Aged, Blind or Disabled (ABD), Foster Care, long-term care, other state-sponsored programs and Medicare (Special Needs Plans). Centene’s CeltiCare subsidiary offers states unique “exchange-based” and other cost-effective coverage solutions for low-income populations. The Company operates local health plans and offers a range of health insurance solutions. It also contracts with other healthcare and commercial organizations to provide specialty services including behavioral health, life and health management, managed vision, telehealth services, and pharmacy benefits management. More information regarding Centene is available at www.centene.com.

# # #

• SIIA Annual National Educational Conference:  October 10-12, Phoenix, AZ – Booth 14
• CAHP 26th Annual Conference: October 17-19, Indian Wells, CA – Booth 302
• TAHP 2011 Texas Managed Care Conference: October 18-20, Bastrop, TX – Booth 42
• IFEBP 57th Annual Employee Benefits Conference: October 30 – November 2, New Orleans, LA – Booth 1130
• MHPA 2011 Annual Meeting: November 6-8, Washington, DC – Booth 114

Strategic partnership combines Nurtur’s knowledge and experience in disease management and best-in-class health coaching with VRI’s technology expertise in medical alert systems, medication management and vital sign monitoring

Hartford, CT (PRWEB) September 15, 2011

Nurtur®, the behavior change company serving multi-market segments, announces a new partnership with Valued Relationships, Inc. (VRI), a leading provider of –remote patient monitoring services, to support the delivery of Telecare Management for members.

Telecare Management is part of Nurtur PeopleCare™, the exclusive approach to educate, enable and motivate people to take personal accountability for their health. Nurtur began offering this service in 2009. Currently the service is available to more than 800,000 member lives. The partnership with VRI brings greater capacity to quickly and seamlessly provide remote monitoring technology to more people in need. It is expected that Telecare Management will be available to an additional 750,000 member lives by the end of the year.

VRI’s reliable, technology-driven monitoring together with personal health coaching from Nurtur supports individuals with chronic conditions such as diabetes, congestive heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The service enables members to continue on with daily activities, maintain independence and enhance their quality of life. Under the agreement, Nurtur and VRI will join forces to deliver Telecare Management to health plans, employers, unions and other benefit plan sponsors.

“The great promise of technology is its ability to collect vast amounts of data, and instantaneously synthesize it into actionable information to improve people’s lives,” said Steven Meholic, Chief Operating Officer at Nurtur. “This strategic partnership brings Nurtur’s life and health management services together with VRI’s leading-edge technology and experience. It is about much more than creating a medical home; rather it is a bold step towards a technology-enabled life and health home.”

Information obtained from peripheral devices including glucometers, weight scales, pulse oximeters, and blood pressure cuffs are transmitted to VRI and run through proprietary algorithms to stratify alerts. False positives and equipment issues are removed from the data stream and stratified alerts are then uploaded to a secure web based platform provided by VRI which is accessible to Nurtur’s Telecare Management team as well as the patient, their physician(s) and caregivers.

“We are pleased to partner with Nurtur to deliver a proven technology solution that is focused on enhancing member engagement and adherence with their physicians’ orders, leading to reduced adverse health events and hospitalizations,” says Andy Schoonover, CEO of VRI. “Our solution is a turnkey and scalable model that will increase the effectiveness and efficiency of Telecare Management Coaches to provide appropriate health interventions and better clinical outcomes for members.”

About Nurtur: Nurtur is the behavior change company dedicated to helping individuals improve their health and wellbeing. The company offers wellness programs and health coaching to educate, enable and motivate people at all life stages address the life issues that get in the way of health as well as the health issues that complicate living. Nurtur life and health management programs include wellness, disease management (including Back Pain, Depression, Diabetes, Heart Disease and Respiratory Disease), episodic/catastrophic care management, work-life resource and referral, employee assistance and professional training. The company provides services to multi-market segments including employers, plan sponsors, Third-Party Administrators, commercial health plans and government agencies. For more information, or to view the full range of programs and services from Nurtur, please visit http://www.nurturhealth.com.

About VRI: With over 20 years of experience, VRI (Valued Relationships, Inc.) is one of the largest providers of telehealth monitoring, monitored medication dispensing and adherence solutions, and medical alert systems in the country. VRI’s services enable seniors, the chronically ill, and those with disabilities to maintain their independence and avoid long-term care facilities and hospitalization, especially readmissions. The company currently serves approximately 65,000 active clients across the United States. Its service portfolio includes Medical Alert Systems, Monitored Medication Dispensers, Telehealth services, and other specialty solutions to provide safety and independence for its clients. For more information, or to view the full range of VRI services and products, please visit http://www.monitoringcare.com
###

Stop by booth 14 at FAHP’s Annual Conference to say hi and find out how the Health Solutions family of companies is working with health plans in Florida and around the country to achieve shape the future of healthcare through innovative, cost-effective service combinations.

Representatives from Nurse Response, Nurtur, OptiCare, and US Script will be on hand to answer your questions and discuss our solutions for improving HEDIS outcomes, streamlining encounter data submission, and delivering proven disease management and coaching techniques.

See you in Orlando!

Nationally Recognized Onsite Programs for Diet & Fitness, Executive Health, Integrative Medicine and Weight Loss Surgery are a Natural Extension of the Nurtur PeopleCare™ Approach to Behavior Change

Farmington, CT (PRWEB) August 16, 2011

With a shared focus to promote and support prevention and lifestyle behavior change, Nurtur® and Duke Medicine have expanded their longstanding exclusive relationship. Duke Medicine, a world-class research, education and patient care institution, provides the proprietary educational health content delivered through Nurtur’s online health management system. Nurtur, the behavior change company serving employers, plan sponsors, health plans and government programs, will now offer access to signature health and wellness programs available through Duke Medicine.

The new marketing collaboration will allow Nurtur to refer members interested in onsite health and wellness to participate in the most appropriate programs at Duke. The onsite programs align with the Nurtur PeopleCare™ approach to support behavior change with individualized assessment, engagement and coaching.

World-class health and wellness programs from Duke Medicine are a marquee benefit for employers to use in supporting a culture of health, enhancing employee satisfaction and recruiting top talent.

John McCall, Operations Director, Duke Diet and Fitness Center and Duke Integrative Medicine, says, “We are very pleased with this extension of our relationship with Nurtur as it provides opportunities for Nurtur clients to access a variety of excellent and recognized health and wellness programs and clinicians.”

A dedicated Nurtur team will provide information to members that express an interest in onsite programs, will provide assistance with identifying the most appropriate options and will direct members to Duke personnel for program enrollment and registration.

Patricia Simmons, Senior Director of Client Services Health Operations Integration at Nurtur, says, “Nurtur is proud to offer access to onsite personal health and wellness programs through our partnership with Duke Medicine. This is an excellent opportunity for our clients and their employees who desire additional care and support to receive world-class treatment delivered by clinical experts at Duke.”

Offered at or near the 26 acre state-of-the-art healing environment at the Duke University Center for Living campus in Durham, North Carolina, onsite health and wellness programs include:

• Duke Diet & Fitness Center includes comprehensive programs lasting one to four weeks or more to empower individuals to achieve a healthier weight and improved fitness for life.
• Duke Executive Health is a one-day program to address the preventive healthcare needs of people who lead high-stress lives with concierge-level, expert and streamlined diagnostic and care planning services with an optional focus on cardiovascular health.
• Duke Integrative Medicine is a team approach to healthcare in a state-of-the-art environment that combines the best of Western medicine with proven complementary therapies.
• Duke Weight Loss Surgery is a comprehensive program designed to support the patient from initial consultation through achievement of long-term healthy lifestyle goals.

For more information about these programs, visit www.nurturhealth.com.

About Nurtur: Nurtur is the behavior change company dedicated to helping individuals improve their health and wellbeing. The company offers wellness programs and health coaching to educate, enable and motivate people at all life stages to address the life issues that get in the way of health as well as the health issues that complicate living. Nurtur life and health management programs include wellness, disease management (including Back Pain, Depression, Diabetes, Heart Disease and Respiratory Disease), episodic/catastrophic care management, work-life resource and referral, employee assistance and professional training. The company provides services to multi-market segments including employers, plan sponsors, Third-Party Administrators, commercial health plans and government agencies.

# # #

AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Cenpatico is committed to making integration of physical and behavioral health a priority. Over the past two years, Cenpatico has worked with its behavioral health providers in Arizona to create facilities that offer behavioral and physical health services at a single location. Integrated healthcare is important for everyone but creating the most appropriate avenues of access for persons with serious mental illness is a key focus area for Cenpatico. Individuals with serious mental illness die on average 25 years earlier than the general population.(1) Eighty-seven percent of years of life lost to premature death by the mentally ill are due to chronic disease, especially infectious, pulmonary, and cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes.(2) Yet this population is less likely to seek adequate primary medical care and typically will have less than one PCP visit per year. They are more likely to seek psychiatric services through mental health service agencies. Given the alarming mortality data, Cenpatico embarked on a campaign to develop new methods of integration to meet these individuals where they are by creating a behavioral-health-primary-health home model of service. Cenpatico focused these efforts in Arizona, and is working to incorporate this as a best practice for all markets.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110815/DA52735LOGO)

Cenpatico hosted events and educational sessions for provider agencies in Arizona to discuss the importance of integrated care, the various approaches to integration, and education on the changes in healthcare system due to the Accountable Care Act. Cenpatico asked Intake and Coordination of Care providers to develop formal work plans for integrating care. They provided research studies and models of integration and introduced them to Federally Qualified Health Centers and physical health providers. From these meetings, four models of integrated care emerged. The four models include placing physical health providers in behavioral health facilities, placing behavioral health providers in physical health facilities, behavioral health providers employing physical health staff and locating them in their behavioral health facilities, and behavioral health providers employing physical health providers located in adjacent facilities. Four agencies that have made great strides in implementing integrated care:

Pinal Hispanic Council (PHC) in collaboration with Sun Life Family Health Center (Sun Life), a federally qualified health center (FQHC), have created a reverse co-location health integration model in which Sun Life will imbed a medical physician within PHC with special focus on individuals with Serious Mental Illness. PHC and Sun Life have partnered together for twenty one years and, together, feel that medical integration is a natural next step to ensuring both entities are prepared for the future.

Arizona Counseling & Treatment Services, L.L.C. (ACTS) believes that addressing both the physical and behavioral health needs of people allow for a more comprehensive and collaborative treatment experience. ACTS has formed co-location partnerships with regional Federally Qualified Healthcare Clinics in Southern Arizona; these include the Sunset Community Health Center and Canyonlands Community Health Clinic. David Waples, CEO of ACTS, is committed to bringing the vision of integration to Southern Arizona. The organization is working to establish the framework of a Biodyne-Consultative type model. A co-located ACTS Behavioral Health Representative in these facilities will afford ACTS the opportunity to serve the ‘whole person’. ACTS and their partners are dedicated to improving the overall health, wellness, and quality of life of the individuals they serve.

Southeastern Arizona Behavioral Health Services (SEABHS) has developed medical integration plans to improve the overall health and care of the people served. Recognizing that data indicates that persons with serious mental illnesses had higher incidences of chronic illnesses and shorter life spans, SEABHS developed its plan to integrate primary health with behavioral health services by making medical services available in the same location as the behavioral health clinic.

In the SEABHS- Safford, AZ outpatient clinic, the staff made modifications to the physical space for medical services, developed policies and billing procedures for medical services and obtained medical license. Provision of services in this model would assure an integrated electronic record, services available under one roof.

In the SEABHS-Sierra Vista outpatient office, the organization pursued integration in collaboration with the Chiricahua Community Health Center (CCHC), an FQHC serving Cochise County, Arizona. They developed a memorandum of understanding between the agencies permitting utilization of the CCHC mobile van at the SEABHS office to provide medical services to behavioral health participants. In addition, wellness activities such as blood pressure checks, diabetes screenings and other health education activities are provided during the visit in the outpatient clinic. Behavioral health staff accompany patients to their medical appointments and ensure communication between providers.

The Mountain Health & Wellness (MHW) commitment to providing integrated primary care, behavioral healthcare and wellness services was borne out of the experience of CEO Rob Evans and his Executive Team’s knowledge of the field. Several years ago, Evans established a program in a major hospital’s level one trauma unit to intervene in the substance abuse issues of those admitted to the hospital. The issues became clear concerning the medical and financial consequences of untreated behavioral health and substance abuse disorders as a major cost generator to the healthcare system. More importantly, patients were not doing well in terms of quality of life when treated only for their physical injuries.

MHS considered three questions prior to making the decision to move forward with integration: Is it the right thing to do for the people that we serve? Is it sustainable? How do you make it happen? Having answered yes to the first two questions, the idea of building an Integrated Healthcare Organization was presented to the MHW Board of Directors in January of 2008. The Board approved this ambitious strategic initiative and the staff began the process of answering question number three: How do you make it happen? MHW leadership studied the literature on integration, consulted with other healthcare providers and formed a plan to move forward. The plan called for the construction a new 35,000 sq. ft. building that included primary and behavioral health care clinics as well as a pharmacy and space to provide Yoga, Tai Chi and other means for engaging patients in wellness activities. After completing the building, the challenges around staffing primary care providers, process mapping for integrating care, developing an integrated Electronic Health Record (EHR) and entering into contracts with commercial funding sources began.

On June 1, 2011 MHW saw its first primary care patients in the new building. In addition, MHW now provides integrated care on a second campus for its patients designated as being persistently and chronically mentally ill.

“There is incredible enthusiasm throughout MHW and throughout the community concerning our opportunity to improve care for folks through integrated service delivery,” said CEO Rob Evans. “We have received incredible support and encouragement from our funding sources, including Cenpatico, as well as from many commercial insurance carriers. We are out of the blocks with the wind in our sails and having more fun doing this work than any of us imagined. As we discovered when we answered our original question number one, this is simply the right thing to do for people.”

A patient at MHW commented, “My previous primary care doctor has no understanding of my psych problems, so that makes it difficult for me to get good care. Since doctors coordinate care with my psych providers, I definitely want to make an appointment!”

An elderly lady who had recently lost her husband came in to MHS for a well woman visit. She commented that she loves her doctor, and that it made her feel important when he listened and had a behaviorist speak with her. She felt that the behaviorist was phenomenal and made her understand a great deal about the grieving process, and that she had no idea she would “not only be listened to, but heard as well.”
Another patient commented, “The best thing about this is that I can get my psych meds and my health needs taken care of under one roof by people who talk to each other.”

Cenpatico continues to monitor the development of these integrated care models in Arizona. They also offer technical assistance and support including guidance on licensure issues, sharing of medical records, billing for services and more. Cenpatico plans to extend their care integration models to the other markets where they do business and encourage providers to create integrated models of care where members receive physical and behavioral health services in a single location.

About Cenpatico-

Cenpatico is a multi-state managed healthcare company based in Austin, Texas. It is a subsidiary of Centene Corporation, a Fortune 500 Company. Since 1994, Cenpatico has been dedicated to serving in the public sector only and has approximately 1.7 million members across the country. The company’s public sector healthcare specialties include behavioral health, school-based services, specialty therapy and rehabilitation, community reentry and more utilizing a local approach to service coordination and delivery. We are committed to innovative solutions and designing programs tailored to improving functional outcomes with our members. Find us online: www.cenpatico.com

(1) National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors, “Measurement of Health Status for People with Serious Mental Illnesses” (2008), available at http://www.nasmhpd.org/general_files/publications/med_directors_pubs/NASMHPD%20Medical%20Directors%20Health%20Indicators%20Report%2011-19-08.pdf.
(2) Center for American Progress, “Mental Health Care Services in Primary Care, Tackling the Issues in the Context of Health Care Reform” (2010) available at www.americanprogress.org

SOURCE Cenpatico

Comprehensive Program Addresses Medical, Social and Environmental Needs of Medicaid Patients with Asthma to Improve Preventative Care and Reduce Unncecessary Utilization of Asthma-Related Healthcare Services

EPA 2011 National Leadership Award in Asthma Management [read more]

Farmington, CT. (July 28, 2011) – Nurtur is proud to stand with Managed Health Services (MHS) health
plan and Centene Corporation, our parent company, in receiving the 2011 National Leadership Award in
Asthma Management from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

MHS is a Centene subsidiary serving Medicaid members in Indiana. Nurtur began working in partnership
with MHS in 2007 to develop a disease management program to provide risk-stratified asthma case
management and deliver integrated healthcare services including home visits, telephonic coaching and
culturally-sensitive educational materials and environmental interventions.

The MHS/Nurtur Asthma Management Program is consistent with the Nurtur PeopleCare™ exclusive
approach to behavior change to support individuals and help them manage both health and life issues.
Aggressive care coordination ensures patients have basic services such as transportation to the doctor and pharmacy, electricity to power the nebulizer, and a clean, safe home environment.

Results from 2007 – 2009 include an incredible 17.3 percent decrease in emergency department visits for
child participants and a 9.4 percent decrease for adult participants. In addition, visits to primary physicians for children and adults were up by 11.1 percent and 16.4 percent, respectively, indicating improved preventative care.

“It is a privilege to partner with MHS in delivering a comprehensive, collaborative and community-based
program that has improved the lives of so many people and is now recognized as a national model of
excellence,” said Angela Simmons, Nurtur Senior Director, Health Operations.

The National Environmental Leadership Award in Asthma Management is the highest recognition a
program and its leaders can receive for delivering excellent environmental asthma management as part of
their comprehensive asthma care services.

About Nurtur: Nurtur is the behavior change company dedicated to helping individuals improve their health and wellbeing. The company offers wellness programs and health coaching to educate, enable and motivate people at all life stages to address the life issues that get in the way of health as well as the health issues that complicate living. Nurtur life and health management programs include wellness, disease management (including Back Pain, Depression, Diabetes, Heart Disease and Respiratory Disease), episodic/catastrophic care management, work-life resource and referral, employee assistance and professional training. The company provides services to multi-market segments including employers, plan sponsors, Third-Party Administrators, commercial health plans and government agencies.
###

View full story

Las Vegas, NV (PRWEB) June 27, 2011

As employers across all industries embrace worksite wellness programs as a proven strategy to reduce healthcare costs, an essential component to program success is effective communications. It can be the difference in achieving desired program goals for engagement, outcomes and return on investment (ROI). To help employers effectively promote wellness programs, Nurtur, the behavior change company serving employers, plan sponsors, health plans and government programs, announces Good Health wellness communications.

Good Health is the theme of Nurtur’s presence at the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) 2011 Annual Conference in Las Vegas. Attendees are invited to visit the Nurtur booth (#2370) to learn about Good Health and take part in an online market research poll. In five short questions, the purpose is to understand the emotional triggers that would move purchasers of wellness programs and consumers of wellness services to engage.

Good Health communications campaigns support employers to achieve engagement, participation and ROI. The concept applies the principals of consumer marketing to create positive emotional messages and distinctive wellness brands that motivate engagement. Good Health begins with a basic understanding that people are human. Words and images connect people topositive emotional destinations that are basic to human nature. Customized, flexible and multimodal campaigns allow employers to tailor messages to reflect their unique values and workplace cultures. Nurtur wellness and marketing professionals guide employers in developing Good Health campaigns with a four-step best-practice process to define the population culture and characteristics, determine the communications strategy, develop strong and clear messaging, and maintain and build program awareness over time.

“Employers need to make their communications count. Without strong internal communications, a worksite wellness program will never achieve the participation, impact and return on investment that it could otherwise realize,” says Pat Henricksen, senior director, product development and Marketing at Nurtur. “Good Health campaigns connect with people on an emotional level to inspire engagement. The concept is fun and can be easily adapted at each stage of program implementation.”

Results of the Good Health poll will be announced in Journey, the monthly e-newsletter and blog from Nurtur. For more information or take part in the Nurtur Good Health poll, visit http://www.nurturgoodhealth.com.

About Nurtur: Nurtur is the behavior change company dedicated to helping individuals improve their health and wellbeing. The company offers wellness programs and health coaching to educate, enable and motivate people at all life stages to address the life issues that get in the way of health as well as the health issues that complicate living. Nurtur life and health management programs include wellness, disease management (including Back Pain, Depression, Diabetes, Heart Disease and Respiratory Disease), episodic/catastrophic care management, work-life resource and referral, employee assistance and professional training. The company provides services to multi-market segments including employers, plan sponsors, Third-Party Administrators, commercial health plans and government agencies.

###

PHOENIX – Acting in response to a request from Cochise County officials and local incident commanders, Governor Jan Brewer has deployed approximately 90 members of the Arizona National Guard to assist with operations in response to the Monument Fire near Sierra Vista.

The service members are part of the Tucson-based 860th Military Police Company. Beginning Tuesday, June 21, they will provide area security for locations evacuated due to the fire, and will be directed by local law enforcement. Additional Arizona National Guard forces are poised to deploy for additional assistance, if needed.

“The Monument Fire continues to draw a massive response from federal, state and local authorities,” said Governor Brewer. “I’ve deployed these National Guard members to assist with the effort, and won’t hesitate to authorize additional manpower if necessary.”

Meanwhile, the interagency staff at the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) in Phoenix continues to cautiously monitor and proactively plan for the consequences of the Monument Fire. The blaze, fanned by high winds and fueled by extreme heat and low humidity, has forced the evacuation of several communities and subdivisions. It is approximately 27,000 acres and almost 30 percent contained. Citizens with questions regarding the Monument Fire should call 800-288-3861.

The following is a summary of how state agencies are assisting with the response to the Monument Fire:

The State Forestry Division’s request for a federal Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) was approved by FEMA on June 12. The FMAG will reimburse the state for 75 percent of firefighting and evacuation costs.

The Arizona Division of Emergency Management has deployed liaisons to the Monument Fire to facilitate information sharing between the State Emergency Operations Center and Cochise County. A state communication vehicle was also dispatched to provide enhanced communication support in the area.

The Arizona Department of Health Services is operating on several fronts for the Monument Fire. The Licensing Division is working to ensure that facilities and agencies have evacuation plans and know whom to contact if they are ordered to evacuate. So far, 15 facilities have relocated patients and residents, but there are 104 facilities within 20 miles of the fire line. Another major component of the DHS response is making sure that the facilities that remain open have enough staff. This is crucial since there are thousands of evacuees who may not be able to get to work, and some are part of the staff at hospitals, nursing homes and child care centers.

The DHS Behavioral Health Division is working closely with Cenpatico, the Regional Behavioral Health Authority in Cochise County, to make sure it has what it needs. So far, Cenpatico has mobilized countless counselors and psychiatrists to visit shelters. Cenpatico is also operating at 24-hour-a-day crisis phone line for people to call. Behavioral Health is one of the longest lasting impacts of any disaster.

The DHS Public Health Division is running the operation to make sure Health Services can provide needed services, and has provided a representative at the State Emergency Operations Center. The Environmental Health Office is helping with information for area shelters about food safety and health effects caused by the air quality near the wildfire. The Bureau of Nutrition and Physical Activity is actively reaching out to the Women, Infant and Children (WIC) clinics in the area to make sure they are safe and have what they need.

People affected by the current wildfires who have questions or problems with their home, auto or health insurance can contact the Department of Insurance for assistance (800-325.2548), or visit www.azinsurance.gov for insurance tips and resources. Evacuees are encouraged to contact their insurance company or agent as soon as feasible.

Visit the Arizona Emergency Information Network (AzEIN) website at www.AzEIN.gov for real-time emergency updates, preparedness and hazard information, and multimedia resources.