Cochise County Jail District approves MOU and data-sharing agreement with Arizona Complete Health

The Cochise County Jail District Board of Directors on Aug. 5 approved a memorandum of understanding and a data-sharing agreement with Arizona Complete Health to enable timely exchange of information about individuals enrolled in Arizona Complete Health who are booked into or released from county jail.

The MOU and the data-sharing agreement were described by a representative of Arizona Complete Health as mechanisms "to jointly establish systems and timely data exchange that is necessary for coordination and continuity of care." The representative said the arrangement will allow a provider to see when an enrolled individual is in custody and to provide records so the jail can continue care, and to know when the person is released so community care can resume.

Both measures passed on voice votes recorded as 2-0 in favor with one board member not voting at the time of the actions.

During public comment, Tricia Geradette of Sierra Vista asked the board to note that the parent company of Arizona Complete Health is Centene Corporation and told the board that "very recently, last month, a class action lawsuit was filed against them," saying the filing "may or may not be relevant to how they'll do their job at the jail, but I thought it was important that you be aware of it." The board allowed the comment after confirming the speaker's intent to address the jail district item.

Board members offered no further substantive questions following the staff presentation. The approved agreements authorize systems and procedures for exchanging custody and enrollment information between Arizona Complete Health and the Cochise County Sheriff's Office to support continuity of medical and behavioral health services during incarceration and on release.

The jail district meeting then recessed before returning to consider the jail budget.