Arizona State Health Care Regulations

Health care in Arizona is regulated by the Arizona Department of Health Services. The department oversees programs in behavioral health, disease prevention and environmental health. The department's mission is to set a high standard for personal and community health through public policy and leadership, according to its website.

Midwife

Arizona' s Midwife Licensing Program regulates the practice of midwifery in the state. Midwives must undergo an examination by the Office of Special Licensing, a division of the Arizona Department of Health Services, to obtain a license The midwife, in most instances, delivers babies in the home and consults a physician if any complications arise. Registered nurses who have been certified by the America College of Nurse Midwives may also practice midwifery in Arizona. They are licensed by the State Board of Nursing.

The Arizona Cancer Registry is a statewide database created with the intent of collecting and analyzing those in Arizona who have cancer. In the first years of the program, reporting was voluntary, but since 1988 the law has required most health care providers to report new cases of cancer. Only aggregate data from the registry is released; the identity of individuals is protected.

Health care providers must report a wide range of communicable diseases, including HIV infection, hepatitis and malaria, to their local health agency, usually a county health service or a tribal health service. The health care providers should file their reports within five days of making the diagnosis, although in some instances the state requires that the report is made within 24 hours. A list of diseases that must be reported along with the reporting times for each disease is available at the Arizona Department of Health Services website.

All babies born in Arizona are screened for a variety of diseases and conditions, including cystic fibrosis and hearing loss. The tests are conducted by having a nurse take a few drops of blood from a baby's heel. If any abnormalities are found, the parents are notified.