♪.

TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," AN ARIZONA BILL COULD BAN THE USE OF A.I.

TO DENY HEALTH INSURANCE CLAIMS.

>>> HOW AN ARTS PROGRAM IS HELPING BUILD CONNECTIONS FOR ADULTS WITH DEMENTIA.

>>> AND ARIZONA'S LARGEST LGBTQ+ STREET FAIR IS BACK WITH A DIFFERENT FEEL.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

.

TED: GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

ARIZONA TODAY JOINED 22 OTHER STATES IN FILING SUIT AGAINST THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES OVER THE AGENCY'S DECISION TO END BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN PUBLIC HEALTH GRANTS.

IT ALSO NAMES HHS SECRETARY ROBERT KENNEDY JR. AS A RECKLESS DECISION TO TERMINATE THE GRANTS.

ARIZONA ATTORNEY GENERAL KRIS MAYES SAYS $239 MILLION LOSS TO THE STATE.

MAYES AND OTHER ATTORNEYS GENERAL ALL DEMOCRATS CLAIM IT VIOLATES THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES ACT.

THEY'RE CALLING FOR TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER TO KEEP THE CUTS FROM HAPPENING.

AS HHS TODAY BEGAN THE PROCESS OF CUTTING 10,000 EMPLOYEES.

THE MOVE INCLUDES THOSE WHOSE JOBS AT THE CDC AND THE FDA INVOLVE REGULATING FOOD AND DRUGS, PROTECTION AGAINST DISEASE AND RESEARCHING TREATMENTS AND CURIOUS.

EMPLOYEES WERE NOTIFIED OF POSITIONS BEING ELIMINATED BY E-MAIL SENT OUT THIS MORNING.

>>> TWO STATES HOLDING ELECTIONS TODAY ARE GETTING NATIONAL ATTENTION.

VOTERS IN FLORIDA DECIDE ON TWO SPECIAL ELECTIONS TO FILL HOUSE SEATS IN HEAVILY REPUBLICAN AREAS.

ONE OF THE RACES IS CLOSELY WATCHED DUE TO RISING POLL NUMBERS FOR DEMOCRATS IN WHAT SHOULD BE A SAFE REPUBLICAN SEAT.

IN WISCONSIN CONTROL OF THE STATE SUPREME COURT WILL BE DECIDED.

CANDIDATES INCLUDE CONSERVATIVE SUPPORTED BY ELON MUSK AND GROUPS TIED TO MUSK WHO SPENT TENS OF MILLIONS ON THE RACE.

THE LIBERAL CANDIDATE MADE MUSK AND SPENDING A MAIN TARGET OF HER CAMPAIGN.

THOSE RACES ARE WIDELY CONSIDERED INDICATIONS HOW AMERICANS ARE FEELING ABOUT TRUMP'S SECOND TERM.

>>> THE U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT WILL SEEK THE DEATH PENALTY FOR THE MAN ACCUSED OF KILLING UnitedHealthcare CEO BRIAN THOMPSON FOR ALLEGEDLY SHOOTING THOMPSON IN MIDTOWN MANHATTAN IN DECEMBER.

OF NOTE, MANGIONE'S LEGAL TEAM ADDED AN ATTORNEY EXPERIENCED IN DEATH PENALTY CASES.

>>> A NEW BILL TO CURB A.I.

'S ROLE IN DENYING HEALTH INSURANCE CLAIMS IS MAKING ITS WAY THROUGH THE STATE LEGISLATURE, CALLS FOR MEDICAL CASES TO ARE REVIEWED BY LICENSED PROFESSIONALS AND NOT AN ALGORITHM.

WE WELCOME MICHAEL DUNN PRESIDENT OF THE ARIZONA MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.

WELCOME.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

TED: YOU BET.

WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN A.I.

AND HEALTH INSURANCE CLAIMS?

>> INCREASINGLY, WE'RE SEEING INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE USING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO REVIEW AND SOME CASES DENY HEALTH CARE CLAIMS AND PRIOR AUTHORIZATIONS.

THEY MOSTLY DENY THEY'RE DOING THIS, BUT THE EVIDENCE IS STARTING TO BE SOMEWHAT OVERWHELMING THAT THEY ARE.

TED: CAN YOU SPOT A DENIAL?

CAN YOU SPOT A.I.

'S FOOTPRINT SO TO SPEAK?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

USUALLY BECAUSE THE REASONS FOR THE DENIAL ARE SILLY, AND THEY DON'T MAKE A WHOLE LOT OF SENSE, THEY DON'T FOLLOW GOOD MEDICAL JUDGMENT.

TED: CAN YOU GIVE AN EXAMPLE?

>> WE HAD ONE LAST WEEK.

A PATIENT CAME IN, AN OCCUPATIONAL INJURY, SHE WAS BIT BY A CAT, AND NEEDED TO HAVE THE WOUND CLEANED OUT.

SHE NEEDED A TETANUS SHOT, AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY, WITHOUT GETTING INTO TOO MUCH DETAIL WITH THE CODING AND STUFF, WE BUILD AN APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF CODE TO GET PAID FOR THE VISIT.

THE INSURANCE COMPANY SENT BACK A DENIAL OR WHAT WE CALL A DOWN CODE, AND THEY DOWNCODED IT TWO LEVELS WHICH REPRESENTED PROBABLY $100 LESS IN PAYMENT FOR US.

WHEN WE READ THROUGH WHAT THE EXPLANATION WAS, IT WAS VERY CLEAR IT WAS A HUMAN HAD NOT REVIEWED THAT.

TED: WAS IT GOBBLEDYGOOK?

>> IT WASN'T GOBBLEDYGOOK, BUT IT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE, IF YOU KNEW THE CASE AND WHAT WAS GOING ON.

TED: THIS ENSURES THAT CLAIMS AREN'T ARBITRARILY DENIED BY A.I.?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

DOESN'T REVENT THE INSURANCE COMPANIES FROM USING A.I.

IT'S GREAT.

WE USE IT.

IT HAS LOTS OF POTENTIAL IN HEALTH CARE, BUT WHAT IT DOES, IT KEEPS THE INSURANCE COMPANY FROM USING IT EXCLUSIVELY, IF THEY'RE GOING TO DENY A CLAIM OR GOING TO PREVENT A PREAUTHORIZATION, THEN IT HAS TO BE REVIEWED BY A HUMAN.

TED: WHEN YOU MENTION PREAUTHORIZATION, WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

>> WELL, A LOT OF MORE EXPENSIVE, MORE ENTAILED MEDICAL PROCEDURES NEED TO BE PREAUTHORIZED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY.

THEY ALL REVIEWED THE CLAIM AND SAY THAT, YES, THIS IS AN APPROPRIATE TREATMENT PLAN FOR THE PATIENT OR NO, IT'S NOT.

BUT THEY NEED TO GIVE YOU A REASON, AND OFTENTIMES WHEN A.I.

IS INVOLVED, THE REASONS DON'T MAKE A WHOLE LOT OF SENSE.

TED: YEAH, YEAH.

THE BILL, IF I'M CORRECT HERE, NO A.I.

FOR REVIEWING OR DENYING CLAIMS ON ITS OWN.

THERE'S GOT TO BE SOME SORT OF HUMAN HANGING AROUND SOMEWHERE?

>> CORRECT, CORRECT.

THEY'RE PERFECTLY ABLE TO USE THE A.I.

TO SCREEN THE CLAIMS, BUT SOMEBODY HAS TO SIGN OFF ON IT, SOMEBODY HAS TO BE RESPONSIBLE.

PREFERABLY SOMEONE THAT KNOWS WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT.

TED: YEAH, A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL.

AMA IS BACKING THE BILL.

IS THIS UNANIMOUS?

>> YEAH, I HAVEN'T ENCOUNTERED ANYBODY WHO OPPOSED THIS BILL.

ALL THE MAJOR HEALTH CARE GROUPS SUPPORT IT.

HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION, NURSES ASSOCIATION, ALL OF THEM.

TED: I SAW IT POSES A SERIOUS RISK TO PATIENT SAFETY.

THOSE WHO AGREE WITH YOU AND ARE AGAINST THE IDEA.

HOW DOES IT POSE A SERIOUS RISK TO SAFETY?

>> AS AN EXAMPLE.

THE KAISER FAMILY REVIEWED CLAIMS, AND THE INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT THE INFORMATION ON THE GOVERNMENT, WHAT THEY FOUND WAS THAT ONE IN FIVE IN-NETWORK CLAIMS WAS DENIED AND NEARLY TWO OUT OF FIVE OUT-OF-NETWORK CLAIMS WERE DENIED AND OF THE 72 MILLION CLAIMS THAT WERE IN-NETWORK DENIED, ONLY 1% WERE APPEALED, WHICH MEANS THAT THE CARE WASN'T PAID FOR.

IT ALSO MEANS THAT ANY FOLLOW-ON CARE, MOST LIKELY WAS NOT PROVIDED TO THE PATIENTS.

TED: AND YET, I KNOW PEOPLE SUPPORT THE IDEA OF USING A.I.

IN ALL SITUATIONS.

IT STREAMLINES, MAKES DECISIONS FASTER, CLEANER AND SOME CASES BETTER.

OBVIOUSLY YOU DON'T THINK IT MAKES DECISIONS BETTER, BUT COMPUTER ALGORITHMS, THE COMPUTER-BASED ALGORITHMS, IS THERE A PLACE FOR THAT IN HEALTH INSURANCE OR TOO INDIVIDUALISTIC?

>> NO, I THINK THEY CAN USE THE ALGORITHMS.

BUT KEEP IN MIND, THE ALGORITHMS ARE ONLY AS GOOD AS THE DATA PUT IN.

TED: THAT IS MY NEXT QUESTION, IF A.I.

USES WHAT'S ALREADY THERE, WHAT DOES THAT SAY ABOUT WHAT'S ALREADY THERE?

>> WELL, IT DEPENDS WHO'S PROGRAMMING THE A.I.

AGAIN, I BELIEVE THERE'S A PLACE FOR THIS, AND THE INSURANCE COMPANIES CERTAINLY CAN USE A.I., AND I EXPECT THEY WOULD.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE NEED TO PROTECT OUR PATIENTS AND NEED SOMEBODY THAT'S QUALIFIED TO REVIEW THEM BEFORE HEALTH CARE IS DENIED OR BEFORE THEY PREVENT ANY PRIOR AUTHORIZATIONS.

TED: CAN CLAIMS THAT ARE REJECTED BY A.I., CAN THE A.I.

FACTOR BE USED IN PROTESTING THESE CLAIMS?

>> I HAVEN'T -- I HAVE NOT PERSONALLY DONE THAT, AND I FEEL MOST OF THE CLAIMS THAT ARE REFLECTED -- I APPEAL MOST OF THE CLAIMS THAT ARE REJECTED.

IT'S NOT NORMAL, IT'S AN EXPENSIVE AND TEDIOUS PROCESS TO APPEAL THE CLAIMS, BUT I DO IT IF WE'RE IN THE RIGHT.

GENERALLY A LOSS, IT COSTS MORE TO APPEAL IT THAN ANY MONEY I STAND TO RECOUP.

BUT YOU KNOW, IN THE FUTURE, THAT'S POSSIBLE.

IF THIS LAW WERE TO BE PASSED, AND WE TRULY BELIEVE THAT THEY DIDN'T COMPLY WITH THE LAW, THEN ABSOLUTELY THAT COULD BE A FACTOR.

TED: ARE YOU FINDING IN THIS AGE OF A.I.

THAT YOU ARE APPEALING MORE?

>> YES.

TED: REALLY?

>> WE'RE DOING A LOT MORE APPEALING THAN WE EVER HAVE IN THE PAST, BUT WE'RE ALSO GETTING DENIED MORE OFTEN.

TED: THUS THE BILL.

THE BILL STATUS, UNANIMOUS, CLOSE TO UNANIMOUS OUT OF THE HOUSE, RIGHT?

>> I BELIEVE WE WERE UNANIMOUS OUT OF HOUSE AND WENT THROUGH THE FINANCE COMMITTEE AND NEARLY UNANIMOUS OUT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, AND HOPING IT WILL SAIL THROUGH THE REST OF THE SENATE AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET IT PASSED AND GET IT ON THE GOVERNOR'S DESK.

TED: IT'S STILL IN THE SENATE, WAITING TO MOVE FROM THERE.

>> CORRECT.

TED: MY LAST QUESTION TO YOU, YOU REFERRED TO THIS EARLIER, WHAT IS THE ROLE OF A.I.

IN HEALTH CARE IN GENERAL AND HEALTH INSURANCE IN PARTICULAR?

>> WELL, I BELIEVE THAT THERE'S A LOT OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE, MORE THIEDE TEDIOUS TASKS THAT A.I.

COULD TAKE ON.

IN FACT, ALREADY IS.

A LOT OF PRACTICES ARE USING A.I.

IN THE EXAM ROOM TO HEAR THE INTERACTION BETWEEN THE PATIENT AND THE PHYSICIAN, AND CREATING A VERY SOLID NOTE ABOUT WHAT THAT INTERACTION WAS, AND I EXPECT THAT THAT WILL ONLY BECOME MORE PREVALENT.

IT WILL MAKE THE PROVIDER'S TIME MORE PRODUCTIVE, AND EVEN CODING AND BILLING.

IT'S A GREAT CHECK TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAPTURE ALL THE CODES THAT WE'RE ENTITLED TO CAPTURE.

DID WE CODE IT CORRECTLY?

ARE THERE SUBCODES WE SHOULD ADD?

AND A.I.

IS VERY GOOD AT THAT, BUT IT'S -- AGAIN, IT'S ONLY AS GOOD AS THE DATA AND THE PERSON PROGRAMMING IT.

IF THERE ARE ULTERIOR MOTIVES IN THE DATA AND THE PERSON PROGRAMMING IT, IT MIGHT COME OUT DIFFERENT.

TED: DR. MICHAEL DUNN, AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

.

TED: THE PHOENIX PRIDE RAINBOWS FESTIVAL IS SET FOR THIS WEEKEND IN DOWNTOWN PHOENIX.

ORGANIZERS OF ARIZONA'S LARGEST LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY STREET FAIR SAY THE EVENT MIGHT HAVE A DIFFERENT FEEL THIS YEAR, DUE TO THE CURRENT POLITICAL CLIMATE.

JOINING US IS JEREMY HELFGOT OF J.M.

HELFGOT COMMUNICATIONS, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME BACK.

TED: THE PHOENIX PRIDE RAINBOWS FESTIVAL, WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?

>> THE SECOND LARGEST ANNUAL LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY EVENT IN ARIZONA, FREE EVENT FROM 10:00 A.M. TO 6:00 P.M. SATURDAY AND SUNDAY AT THE HERITAGE SQUARE HISTORIC DISTRICT.

EXPECTING A CROWD OF MORE THAN 20,000 THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND.

COUPLE OF HUNDRED EXHIBITORS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, FOOD, ENTERTAINMENT, WONDERFUL TIME, AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO GATHER AS COMMUNITY IN A TIME THAT'S BEEN INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT FOR SOME IN OUR POPULATION.

TED: I WANT TO GET TO THAT IN A SECOND, I REFER TO IT AS THE LARGEST ONE, THE LARGEST ONE IS STEELE INDIAN SCHOOL PARK, CORRECT?

>> THAT'S THE PRIDE FESTIVAL WEEKEND TAKING PLACE IN THE FALL.

TED: WE GOT THEM FIGURED OUT RIGHT NOW.

HERITAGE SQUARE DOWNTOWN PHOENIX, SUPPOSED TO BE A CELEBRATION, DOES IT FEEL THAT WAY?

>> IT CERTAINLY WILL BE A CELEBRATION OF COMMUNITY.

THIS IS A CHANCE FOR PEOPLE TO COME TOGETHER AND BE IN A PLACE THAT'S ACCEPTING, THAT'S SAFE, WELCOMING.

FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY ARE STRIVING, HUNGERING FOR THAT RIGHT NOW.

OBVIOUSLY THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY HAS BEEN UNDER THE HARSHEST ATTACK WE'VE SEEN MAYBE IN U.S. HISTORY IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS, ATTEMPTS TO ERASE HISTORY, ATTEMPTS TO ERASE THE TRANSGENDER POPULATION FROM REALLY LEGAL AND NOTED EXISTENCE, AND WE'RE GOING TO BE TOGETHER REMINDING EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY'RE NOT ALONE, THAT WE'RE CONTINUING TO FIGHT, THAT WE'RE ACTIVE, AND WE'RE GOING TO BE SEEN THIS WEEKEND, WHICH IS CRITICAL.

>> I THINK YOUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WAS QUOTED AS SAYING OUR COMMUNITY IS TARGETED WITH HATEFUL AND HARMFUL POLICIES AT A PACE AND ON A SCALE WE HAVEN'T SEEN IN DECADES.

>> THIS IS THE TRUTH.

WE'VE SEEN ATTEMPTS THROUGH EXECUTIVE ORDERS, UNILATERAL ACTION COMING OUT OF THE WHITE HOUSE, NOT TO MAENGZ OTHER ATTEMPTS AT THE ARIZONA LEGISLATURE AND THANKFULLY HERE IN STATE, GOVERNOR HOBBS IS WIELDING VETO STAMP AND PROTECTING THE COMMUNITY AS SHE ALWAYS PROMISED TO DO, BUT AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, WE'RE SEEING AT A RATE I DON'T THINK ANYONE WAS EXPECTING.

TED: CELEBRATING DIVERSITY OF THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY IS MENTIONED AS A GOAL AND DESIGN FOR THIS EVENT, CELEBRATING THE DIVERSITY THAT IS LGBTQ+ OR WITHIN THAT COMMUNITY?

>> YES, AND YES, TED.

THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY IS THE EPITOME OF EXCEPTIONALITY BECAUSE THEY EXIST IN ALL WALKS OF LIFE.

EVERY NATIONALITY, ALL THROUGHOUT GEOGRAPHY.

SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS, ETHNICITY, RELIGION.

WE'RE BRINGING PEOPLE UNDER ATTACK BECAUSE OF PERSONAL IDENTITY AS LGBTQ+ INDIVIDUALS BUT SOME CASES ALSO AS MEMBERS OF UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES OR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, OR RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES THAT ARE BEING TARGETED AND PERSECUTED, AND SO WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE TO UPLIFT WITH WHAT WE'RE DOING THIS WEEKEND.

TED: WHY DO YOU THINK THE FOLKS, THE LGBTQ+, WHY DO YOU THINK THEY'RE TARGETED?

WHAT HAPPENED HERE WITH THE LAST ELECTION AND THOSE ALIGNED HEREIN.

WHY DO YOU THINK THIS IS HAPPENING?

>> I THINK IT'S A MATTER OF SCAPEGOATING THAT'S AS OLD AS HISTORY ITSELF.

WE SAW SIMILAR MOVES, NOT AS EXTREME TOWARDS THE GAY AND LESBIAN COMMUNITY, NOW THE TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY IS UNDER ATTACK.

WE HAD A DECADE OF SAME-SEX MARRIAGE.

PEOPLE ARE SEEING THE SKY DIDN'T FALL.

SO NOW THEY'RE LOOKING FOR A NEW SECTION OF THE COMMUNITY TO TARGET.

OTHER TO TRY AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND TRY AND BLAME AND MAKE PROBLEMS FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO LIVE AUTHENTIC LIVES AND BE WHO THEY ARE.

TED: FAMILY-FRIENDLY, PET FRIENDLY, THE WHOLE NINE YARDS?

>> FAMILY-FRIENDLY, PET-FRIENDLY, PHOENIX PRIDE.ORG HAS THE INFORMATION, ENTERTAINMENT LINEUP, WHAT TO BRING, NOT TO BRING, WHO'S EXHIBITING, FOOD OPTIONS, ALL THE INFORMATION AT PHOENIX PRIDE.ORG.

TED: THAT INCLUDES PARKING INFORMATION DOWNTOWN, HERITAGE SQUARE PARKING INFORMATION.

>> PARKING INFORMATION, FORTUNATELY THE D-BACKS ARE ON THE ROAD THIS WEEKEND, SO PARKING WILL BE SOMEWHAT AVAILABLE BUT ENCOURAGE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AS PARKING IS MORE SCARCE THAN WE'D LIKE IT TO BE.

TED: PLEASURE TO SEE YOU, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THE PHOENIX PRIDE RAINBOWS FESTIVAL, HERITAGE SQUARE.

>> THANKS, TED, ALWAYS APPRECIATE IT.

TED: YOU BET.

.

TED: MESA ARTS CENTER IS OFFERING A CREATIVE WORKSHOP TO ADULTS WITH DEMENTIA AND CAREGIVERS WITH THE GOAL OF BUILDING A SENSE OF CREATIVITY AND COMMUNITY.

AS PART OF OUR AARP PROGRAM, WE LEARN ABOUT HEARTS IN MIND.

HERE WITH US WITH LAURA WILDE DIRECTOR OF STUDIOS AT THE MESA ARTS CENTER.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING US.

TED: HEARTS IN MIND.

>> A PROGRAM WE'VE HAD AT MESA ARTS CENTER FOR A LONG TIME BUT REVAMPED IT, AND IT'S DESIGNED TO PROVIDE CAREGIVERS AND THEIR LOVED ONES LIVING WITH DEMENTIA AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

FOR CAREGIVERS TO PROVIDE RESPITE AND A SENSE OF COMMUNITY, AND LOVED ONES, TO ALLOW THEM TO EXPERIENCE ART MAKING IN A SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT THAT'S WHAT I CALL NO FAIL ENVIRONMENT.

TED: INTERESTING.

I SEE IT STARTS WITH 30 MINUTES OF SOCIAL TIME.

WHAT'S THAT ALL ABOUT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AFTER THE PANDEMIC, WE DID A LOT OF RESEARCH ABOUT WHAT FAMILIES WITH LOVED ONES LIVING WITH DEMENTIA WERE EXPERIENCING.

WE LOST A BIT OF THAT COMMUNITY DURING THE PANDEMIC.

WHEN WE COME BACK, WE DECIDED IT WAS IMPORTANT TO HAVE 30 MINUTES TOGETHER TO TALK AND EXPERIENCE, WE PROVIDE LOTS OF SNACKS AND COFFEE.

AFTER THE 30 MINUTES, THE CAREGIVERS GO INTO A ROOM NEXT DOOR AND THE LOVED ONES STAY IN THE ROOM FOR THEIR OWN PROJECT.

A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT WITH TEACHING ARTISTS AND VOLUNTEERS THAT HAVE BEEN TRAINED, WHILE THE CAREGIVERS GET A CHANCE TO REST AND RELAX A LITTLE BIT.

TED: 60 MINUTE ARTMAKING SESSION?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

TED: WE SEE IT THERE.

WHAT KIND ART IS MADE?

>> ANYTHING THAT WE LIKE.

A LOT OF VISUAL ARTS.

TANGIBLE MOTOR SKILLS ARE IMPORTANT, WE'VE DONE MOVEMENT, FIBERS, STORYTELLING, PAINTING AND DRAWING.

WE LIKE TO MIX IT UP AND OFFER A WIDE VARIETY FOR PARTICIPANTS.

>> HANDS-ON IS A BIG DEAL HERE, RIGHT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

TACTILE MOTOR SKILLS ARE IMPORTANT, JUST AS MOVING AND DANCING.

TED: ART ENGAGES THE BRAIN IN DIFFERENT WAYS AND IN POSITIVE WAYS, TRUE?

>> ABSOLUTELY, YES.

SO A MULTITUDE OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

THE GOAL IS NOT JUST TO CREATE ART, IT'S TO BUILD COMMUNITY, TRY SOMETHING NEW, GAIN THE CONFIDENCE TO DO THAT, AND HOPEFULLY CONTRIBUTE TO OVERALL WELLNESS.

WE HAVE MEASURED THAT AFTER PARTICIPANTS HAVE SPENT THE MORNING WITH US, THE POSITIVE MOOD FOR A LOVED ONE WITH DEMENTIA CAN LAST ALL DAY.

IF YOU ASK A CAREGIVER HOW IT DEAL WITH THE LOVED ONE OR CARE FOR THEM, THE POSITIVE MOOD IS SIGNIFICANT TO THEM.

TED: I WAS GOING TO ASK WHAT RESPONSE THAT YOU HAD FROM THE CAREGIVERS, NOT ONLY FOR THE RESPITE BUT WHAT THE FOLKS THEY'RE CARING FOR BEING INVOLVED IN CREATING THINGS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

JUST LAST MONTH, WE HAD A CAREGIVER COME IN, AND AFTER 30 MINUTES OR SO, CAME BACK TO THE ROOM WITH HER LOVED ONE AND AMAZED TO SEE HE WAS TOTALLY ENGAGED, AND PROBABLY DIDN'T FORGET ABOUT HER, BUT IN A SPACE HE WAS HAPPY WITH OTHERS, HAVING A GREAT TIME, HE DIDN'T NOTICE HER ABSENCE AND HE WAS TOUCHED BY THAT AND ALSO JUST REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THAT EXPERIENCE, RIGHT?

TED: YES.

>> WE KNOW ADULTS LIVING WITH DEMENTIA EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF AUTONOMY AND SO MANY THINGS, IT CAN CONTRIBUTE TO A NEGATIVE MOOD.

HAVING THE POSITIVITY AND BRIGHTNESS ARE SIGNIFICANT.

TED: YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE'S A NEW BOOK THAT TALKS ABOUT THE CREATIVE PROCESS AND RIGHT SIDE OF THE BRAIN, HOW, IF YOU ENGAGE THAT AND KEEP THAT GOING, THE LEFT SIDE, THE ANALYTICAL SIDE, THE WORRY, ANXIETY SIDE DIDN'T HAVE ANYWHERE TO GO, AND IT'S A WAY FOR THOSE, NOT WITH EARLY FORMS OF DEMENTIA BUT KEEP SOME OF THAT WORRY AND CONCERN AT BAY, DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE DEFINITELY SEE EVIDENCE OF THAT.

EMOTIONAL MEMORY LASTS THE LONGEST, SO A LOT OF TIMES ENGAGING WITH MUSIC AND ART AND POETRY CAN KIND OF ELICIT SOME OF THOSE DEEP-STORED MEMORIES.

WE'VE HAD PARTICIPANTS BREAK INTO SONG AND ANOTHER PARTICIPANT JOIN THEM, IT'S A GREAT THING TO SEE.

TED: THIS IS OPEN, IT'S A FREE PROGRAM HERE?

>> YES, WE'RE SUPER LUCKY THAT IT'S COMPLETELY FREE THANKS TO THE SUPPORT OF BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF ARIZONA AND GILA RIVER INDIAN COMMUNITY.

IT'S THE SECOND TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH, ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO LEARN MORE GO TO MESA ARTS CENTER.COM/ARTS AND MIND.

TED: HOLY SMOKES, WHAT'S GOING ON DOWN THERE?

>> WE'RE GROWING EVERY SINGLE DAY.

IT'S AN AMAZING PLACE TO BE.

IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN EVEN IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS, I CHALLENGE YOU TO COME DOWN.

LIGHT RAIL OR DRIVE, IT'S AN ASTOUNDING PLACE, MESA ARTS CENTER IS CELEBRATING 20 YEARS, YOU ARE COMPLETELY RIGHT.

MESA IS AN INCREDIBLE PLACE TO BE RIGHT NOW.

TED: WITH THE GROWTH, MESA ARTS CENTER IS HANGING IN THERE, GROWING WITH THE GROWTH?

>> WE HAVE A BRAND-NEW BROADWAY SERIES, THE SECOND YEAR WE'VE BROUGHT BROADWAY BACK, MORE EXHIBITIONS IN THE MUSEUM AS WELL.

WE HAD OUR FIRST EVER ALT FEST LAST WEEK.

TED: ONE MORE TIME FOR FOLKS INTERESTED IN THIS AS FAR AS THE DEMENTIA CARE AND THE CAREGIVERS WHERE, DO THEY GO?

>> MESA ARTS CENTER.COM/ARTS AND MIND.

TED: MUST BE REWARDING TO PUT THIS TOGETHER AND WATCH IT SUCCEED.

>> IT IS.

TED: THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.