♪.

TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," A NEW REPORT RANKS THE PHOENIX METRO AREA AS AMONG THE WORST IN THE NATION FOR OZONE POLLUTION.

>>> ALSO TONIGHT, WE'LL TAKE A LOOK HOW A.I.

IS RESHAPING CYBERSECURITY.

>>> AND AN ASSOCIATION LOOKS TO ENHANCE ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE HOME CARE INDUSTRY.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

.

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

I'M TED SIMONS.

THE AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION RELEASES 27th ANNUAL STATE OF THE AIR REPORT LAST WEEK, AND ONCE AGAIN ARIZONA DIDN'T FARE ALL THAT WELL WITH THE PHOENIX METRO AREA RANKED FOURTH WORST IN THE COUNTRY FOR OZONE POLLUTION.

JOINING US IS JOANNA STROTHER SENIOR DIRECTOR OF ADVOCACY.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

TED: WEDNESDAY WAS EARTH DAY.

>> YES.

TED: WE'RE THE FOURTH WORST IN TERMS OF OZONE POLLUTION, WE WERE THE FOURTH WORST LAST YEAR, WEREN'T WE?

>> YES, THIS YEAR WE HAD MORE DAYS WHEN OZONE REACHED UNHEALTHY LEVELS IN THE REPORT.

TED: THE SAME BUT WORSE?

>> THE SAME RANKING BUT WORSE.

TED: AND L.A., LONG BEACH WAS THE WORST FOR OZONE POLLUTION.

WHAT IS OZONE POLLUTION?

>> SURE, OZONE IS ACTUALLY CREATED.

IT'S A MIX OF VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS AND NITROUS OXIDE AND WHEN THE CHEMICALS ARE IN THE PRESENCE OF SUNLIGHT AND HEAT, THAT HELPS TO FORM OZONE.

TED: AND OZONE IS FORMED LOWER TO THE -- OZONE IS WAY UP THERE?

>> YES, THIS IS GROUND-LEVEL OZONE, NOT THE ONE IN THE ATMOSPHERE, BUT HERE.

TED: CAN YOU SEE IT, SMELL IT, FEEL IT?

>> IT IS REFERRED TO AS SMOG, AND BECAUSE WE LIVE IN THE VALLEY, YOU CAN LOOK OUT TO THE MOUNTAINS AND SEE THE GRAY HAZE, THAT'S OZONE.

TED: THAT'S A NOT ALWAYS OZONE, CAN IT BE THERE ON A CLEAR DAY?

>> OZONE, SOMETIMES YOU CANNOT SEE.

IT'S BEST TO CHECK YOUR AIR QUALITY FORECAST TO SEE WHEN OZONE IS HIGH IN THE DAY.

TED: AND CLIMATE CHANGE IS NOT DOING US ANY FAVORS, IS IT?

>> CLIMATE CHANGE IS DEFINITELY MAKING THE PROBLEM WORSE, CREATING MORE OZONE AND MAKING THE BURDEN HARDER TO CLEAN UP.

TED: LET'S TALK ABOUT OTHER FACTORS, WILDFIRES, AT PLAY?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE ARE COMING INTO WILDFIRE SEASON IN ARIZONA.

WILDFIRES HAVE BECOME MORE CATASTROPHIC, WHICH ARE DEFINITELY ADDING TO THE BURDENS AS WELL.

WE'RE LOOKING AT PARTICULATE MATTER AND WE CALL IT PM-2.5.

IT IS BIGGER THAN DUST, DUST IS PM-10.

IT CAUSES A VARIETY OF BREATHING ISSUES.

TED: AND BECAUSE PHOENIX, WE'RE IN A BASIN, SURROUNDED BY MOUNTAINS, THAT'S NOT HELPING MATTERS?

>> RIGHT.

SO USUALLY WE HAVE OZONE SEASON, WE HAVE A WINTER OZONE SEASON AND SUMMER OZONE SEASON.

IN WINTER, WHAT HAPPENS IS BECAUSE WE'RE HERE IN THE VALLEY, WE HAVE WEATHER INVERSION PATTERNS, SO WE HAVE COOL AIR IN THE VALLEY AND WARM AIR THAT TRAPS IT, WHEN THE AIR IS POLLUTED AND BECOMES STAGNANT, IT CAN STAY FOR HOURS AND DAYS SO WE'RE BREATHING IN THE POLLUTED AIR FOR A LONG TIME.

TED: IN TERMS OF SUMMER, THOUGH, IT'S BECAUSE OF THE HEAT?

>> YES, HEAT DEFINITELY HELPS TO COOK OZONE, WHICH WE LIKE TO SAY.

AND OZONE ACTS LIKE A SUN BURN TO THE LUNGS AND CAN CAUSE ASTHMA ATTACKS AND OTHER RESPIRATORY ISSUES.

>> DOES DUST AND THE PARTICULATES, DO THEY IMPACT OZONE AND VICE VERSA?

>> THEY DON'T IMPACT OZONE, OBVIOUSLY DUST IS A DIFFERENT PARTICLE AND CAN CAUSE BREATHING ISSUES.

ALLERGIES WE SEE WITH PM-10.

TED: HOW DID YOU DO YOUR TESTING?

WHAT IS THE PROCESS HERE?

>> THIS IS EPA, QUALITY-ASSURED DATA.

WE HAVE AIR QUALITY MONITORS ALL OVER THE STATE.

THEY'RE OVERSEEN BY STATE, LOCAL AND TRIBAL OFFICIALS.

IT IS DATA FROM THEIR SOURCES AND WE DOWNLOAD IT AND ANALYZE IT AND PUT IT INTO A WAY THAT PEOPLE CAN UNDERSTAND BECAUSE IT'S VERY TECHNICAL AND COMPLICATED, BUT WE WANT PEOPLE TO LINK THAT THERE IS AIR POLLUTION, AND IT CAN HARM YOUR HEALTH.

TED: ANOTHER FACTOR HERE, AND I FIND THIS FASCINATING BECAUSE THE EPA BRINGS UP THIS, EPA MODELS SHOW ONLY 20% OF OZONE POLLUTION IS MAN MADE, AND A LOT OF THIS STUFF IS COMING IN FROM MEXICO AND EVEN CHINA?

IS THAT POSSIBLE?

>> IT IS.

IT IS POSSIBLE.

AIR DOESN'T STAY IN ONE PLACE, SO THERE ARE EVEN FROM CALIFORNIA, AND WE HAD THE WILDFIRES IN CANADA, WE SAW THAT SMOKE ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY, ALMOST ALL THE WAY TO CALIFORNIA.

SO YES, IT DOES COME FROM OTHER SOURCES.

BUT THERE'S A LOT WE CAN DO HERE IN ARIZONA TO CLEAN UP AS WELL.

TED: I WANT TO GET TO THAT IN A SECOND.

WHAT DOES ALL THIS MEAN REGARDING HEALTH?

>> REGARDING HEALTH, OZONE IS LIKE A SUN BURN TO THE LUNGS.

PARTICLE POLLUTION LODGES DEEP INTO THE LUNGS, PEOPLE HAVE BREATHING ISSUES, ITCHY, COUGH, WATERY EYES, EVEN WITH POLLUTION, PEOPLE HAVE GONE THE LUNG CANCER, HIGHER INCIDENCES OF ASTHMA, CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE, STROKE, AND LONG-TERM EXPOSURE CAN MEAN PREMATURE DEATH.

TED: ESPECIALLY BAD FOR THE ELDERLY AND KIDS, I IMAGINE.

YES, WE ARE SPECIFICALLY CALLING OUT KIDS, THEY'RE THE NEXT GENERATION, WE NEED TO RING THE ALARMS THIS IS WHO AIR POLLUTION IS GOING TO AFFECT MOST.

TED: DID I READ NEUROLOGICAL DISEASE IS AFFECTED?

>> YES, THE BODY SYSTEM IS ALWAYS GROWING, THE MORE WE ARE EXPOSED TO AIR POLLUTION, THE MORE IT PLAYS ON NEUROLOGICAL SYSTEM IN GENERAL.

TED: WHAT CAN PEOPLE DO TO PROTECT THEMSELVES?

>> SURE, DEFINITELY CHECK THE AIR QUALITY FORECAST.

THEY CAN HEAD TO AIRNOW.GOV.

SOMETIMES IT'S FINE, CLEAN.

WE CAN GO OUTSIDE, AND SOMETIMES IT REACHES THE UNHEALTHY LEVELS, AND SO CHECK THE FORECAST BEFORE YOU HEAD OUT.

WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL STATE, A BEAUTIFUL CITY THAT PEOPLE LIKE TO BIKE AND RUN IN.

WE WERE TALKING ABOUT ALL THE NICE THINGS PEOPLE DO, CHECK THE FORECAST AND BE SURE IT'S SAFE HEADING OUTDOORS.

TED: CERTAIN NUMBER, OKAY, AND IT LOOKS GOOD.

BUT THE WIND'S SUPPOSED TO KICK UP LATER ON.

SOMETIMES THE WIND CLEARS THE AIR, SOMETIMES THE WIND BRINGS DUST AND PROBLEMS.

>> SURE, THAT'S WHY IT'S BEST TO CHECK THE FORECAST.

AGAIN, IT CAN BE BRINGING IN HORRIBLE PARTICLES FROM A WILDFIRE THAT'S IN CALIFORNIA OR SOMEBODY ELSE.

SO WE WANT TO CHECK THAT.

TED: LAST QUESTION, WHERE DO YOU GO TO CHECK THIS?

WHAT DO YOU DO?

>> FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE REPORT, HEAD TO LUNG.ORG.

FIND OUT THE STATE OF YOUR AIR WHERE YOU'RE LIVING AND IF YOU WANT TO CHECK AIR QUALITY FORECAST, HEAD TO AIRNOW.GOV.

TED: JOANNA STROTHER, AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION.

ANOTHER SURVEY.

ONE DAY WE'RE GOING TO BRING YOU IN AND IT'S GOING TO BE GREAT NEWS.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

.

TED: STATE SPONSORED HACKERS FROM CHINA USED A.I.

TECHNOLOGY IN A REPORTED CYBERATTACK LATE LAST YEAR.

THE ATTACK WAS AN EFFORT TO GET INTO THE COMPUTER SYSTEMS OF MORE THAN TWO DOZEN COMPANIES AND GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY AROUND THE WORLD.

THE INCIDENT IS PROMPTING CYBERSECURITY EXPERTS TO WARN THAT NEW AND MORE POWERFUL A.I.

SYSTEMS ARE CHANGING THE NATURE OF CYBERSECURITY.

TO LEARN MORE, WE WELCOME NADYA BLISS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ASU'S ADVANCED CAPABILITIES FOR NATIONAL SECURITY INSTITUTE.

THAT'S A HEALTHY TITLE, BUT THIS IS A BIG TOPIC, TOO.

THIS WAS THE FIRST REPORTED A.I.

ASSISTED, A.I.

DIRECTED?

>> LET ME JUMP INTO IT, THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON AND BRINGING THE TOPIC, IT IS INCREDIBLY TIMELY IN ADDITION TO THE END OF LAST YEAR, THERE'S THE PREVIEW MODEL RELEASED RECENTLY.

HAS IT BEEN THE FIRST, THIS IS NOT THE FIRST BUT GOTTEN SIGNIFICANT VULNERABILITY BECAUSE IT IS BASICALLY AT LEVEL OF EXPERT HACKERS.

TED: MY GOODNESS.

THE ATTACK, MIGHT BE HAPPENING RIGHT NOW, THESE ATTACKS ARE A.I.

ASSISTED, HOW MUCH HUMAN INTERACTION IS INVOLVED?

>> YEAH, THAT'S A PHENOMENAL QUESTION.

SO THERE HAS BEEN A FUNDAMENTAL SHIFT IN THE LANDSCAPE.

PROBABLY IN THE LAST YEAR OR SO, WHERE ESSENTIALLY SOMETHING THAT USED TO REQUIRE AN EXPERT HUMAN HACKER NOW DOESN'T REQUIRE HUMAN IN THE LOOP AT ALL, AND THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT NOVEL CAPABILITY, SO ESSENTIALLY, NOW WHAT THAT MEANS IS A.I.

TOOLS HAVE TO BE ADAPTED FOR CYBERDEFENSE BOTH, YOU KNOW, IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO MITIGATE IT.

TED: IF IT'S AN A.I.

ATTACK, I WOULD IMAGINE THE BEST DEFENSE IS MORE A.I.?

>> IT'S NOT NECESSARILY MORE A.I.

I THINK IT'S MAYBE WELL, CAREFULLY DEPLOYED A.I.

WE TALKED ABOUT IT ON THE SHOW PREVIOUSLY.

A.I.

HAS BEEN IN DEVELOPMENT FOR DECADES.

I MEAN, I REMEMBER BEING A TEACHING ASSISTANT FOR AN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE COURSE MORE THAN 20 YEARS AGO AT CORNELL, AND WITH THE TRANSFORMATIVE CAPABILITIES, THERE'S BEEN AN INFLECTION POINT.

THE ADOPTION AND THE PENETRATION OF THE SYSTEMS AND BASICALLY ALL OF THE COMPUTING SYSTEMS AROUND US HAS CREATED THIS VERY DIFFERENT TYPE OF ATTACK ENVIRONMENT AND DEFENSE ENVIRONMENT.

SO YOU CAN THINK OF IT AS A VERY SCARY THING BECAUSE ATTACKERS NOW DON'T NEED SOPHISTICATED HACKING KNOWLEDGE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IT CAN ALSO BE A PRETTY POSITIVE THING BECAUSE DEFENDERS CAN BUILD THOSE DEFENSES.

TRYING TO BE A TINY BIT OPTIMISTIC.

TED: YEAH, SOUNDS AS THOUGH WHO GETS TO THE FLAW FIRST?

IS IT A RACE TO SEE WHO GETS THERE FIRST?

>> ESSENTIALLY WHAT THERE HAS BEEN FOREVER IS THIS FIELD OF VULNERABILITY DETECTION, SO PEOPLE, HACKERS, NOT ALWAYS IN HOODIES AND NOT ALWAYS IN THE BASEMENT, WOULD IDENTIFY VULNERABILITIES IN CODE, AND NOTIFY COMPANIES AND SYSTEMS OF THE VULNERABILITIES AND THEN THE VULNERABILITIES WOULD BE PATCHED.

THIS ENTIRE PROCESS BASICALLY CAN NOW BE AUTOMATED, AND THAT ESSENTIALLY WHAT IS HAPPENING.

SO IF YOU ARE A BAD PERSON -- I WAS GOING TO SAY A BAD GUY, YOU CAN BE A BAD WOMAN AS WELL OR A BAD PERSON, YOU CAN IDENTIFY THE VULNERABILITIES AND EXPLOIT THEM.

IF YOU'RE A GOOD ACTOR, YOU CAN IDENTIFY THE VULNERABILITIES AND PATCH THEM.

AND THE GOAL HERE IS TO PATCH THEM BEFORE THEY ARE EXPLOITED.

TED: YEAH, WHO GETS THERE FIRST?

WHAT IF YOU'RE A BAD A.I.?

CAN A.I.

SAY I GOT NOTHING TO DO NOTICED, I'M GOING TO SEE, I THINK THERE'S A FLAW OVER HERE.

AT WHAT POINT DO THEY RUN WILD?

>> SO I WANT TO BE A LITTLE CAREFUL HERE BECAUSE IN A.I., IT DOESN'T HAVE -- IT'S NOT A LIVE THING, IT'S A BUNCH OF MATH AND CODE AND EQUATIONS, SO IT STILL HAS TO BE DEPLOYED, BUT THAT SAID, WHAT YOU BRING UP IS ACTUALLY A BRILLIANT POINT, THERE HAVE TO BE GUARDRAILS AROUND THE SYSTEMS AND HAVING A HUMAN IN THE LOOP TO JUST KIND OF CHECK WHERE THOSE SYSTEMS ARE INTERACTING, I THINK, IS A VERY IMPORTANT AUDIT ASPECT.

TED: CAN YOU BE, AGAIN, A BAD ACTOR THAT TELLS A.I.

OR INSTRUCTS A.I.

OR PROGRAMS AND CODES A.I.

TO GO AROUND THAT HUMAN?

>> I MEAN, IT BECOMES KIND OF A TRADITIONAL ENGAGEMENT, RIGHT?

IF YOU CAN BUILD SOMETHING THAT GOES AROUND, YOU BUILD A FENCE THAT PREVENTS YOU FROM GOING AROUND.

I DO THINK COMING BACK TO THE POINT YOU'RE MAKING.

I THINK WE'RE IN THIS VERY INTERESTING MOMENT THAT HAS DISTINCT PARALLELS TO EARLY 2000S WHEN EVERYTHING WAS CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET.

NOW EVERYTHING IS GETTING DEPLOYED WITH A.I.

SYSTEMS AND AMPLIFIED WITH A.I.

SYSTEMS AND IT'S AN IMPORTANT MOMENT TO SAY HOW DO WE RUGGEDIZE THESE SYSTEMS.

TED: THAT'S WHY WE WANTED TO HEAR YOU FROM.

SOUNDS AS THE VERY NATURE OF CYBERSECURITY IS CHANGING?

>> IT'S FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGING.

IT'S FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGING FROM A PERSPECTIVE THAT NOW YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE A SOPHISTICATED HACKER TO DEPLOY A SOPHISTICATED ATTACK.

AGAIN, I THINK YOU OFTEN ASKED ME FOR PREDICTIONS AND I DON'T LIKE TO GIVE THEM, BUT IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, WHAT I THINK THE PATH THAT WE'RE ON IS -- I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE BUMPY, BUT IN THE LONG TERM, I THINK WE CAN BUILD MORE SECURE SYSTEMS BECAUSE THERE'S ABILITY TO DETECT THOSE VULNERABILITIES IN CODE BEFORE THE CODE IS DEPLOYED, SO YOU NO LONGER ARE DEPLOYING BUGGY, VULNERABLE CODE.

TED: AGAIN, I WANT TO MAKE SURE I GET THIS RIGHT.

A.I.

SEEMS IT WAS LIMITED BY THE SKILLS OF THE PERSON PROGRAMMING AND USING A.I.

HAVE WE JUMPED THAT PARTICULAR HURTLE?

IS A.I.

LOOKING AT US IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR NOW?

>> I DON'T THINK QUITE YET.

PREDOMINANTLY BECAUSE IT IS STILL DOING NOT MY NEAREST STATISTICAL PREDICTION.

IT DOESN'T REALLY HAVE DATA TO FIGURE IT OUT, SO WHAT NEVER SEEN IS VERY DIFFERENT FOR ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE THAN A HUMAN.

WE SEE SOMETHING AND FORGET IT IMMEDIATELY.

A.I.

KIND OF ALWAYS REMEMBERS.

WE'RE NOT REALLY THERE WHERE IT'S SORT OF SELF-ACTUALIZED.

TED: LAST QUESTION BEFORE WE GO, AND KEEP IT BRIEF, IF YOU COULD.

WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME, I COULD TALK BUT TO THIS ALL DAY.

YOU'RE OPTIMISTIC, AND THAT'S GOOD, BUT WHAT WORRIES YOU THE MOST?

>> WHAT WORRIES ME THE MOST IS WE MAKE EXACTLY THE SAME MISTAKES IN THE EARLY 2000.

IN THE 2000S WE FOCUSED ON DEPLOYING CAPABILITY WITHOUT DEPLOYING SECURITY.

I THINK WE HAVE A CHANCE TO BE NOT SO SECURE THIS TIME.

SEE IF WE WILL BE.

TED: NADYA BLISS, DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL SECURITY INSTITUTE AT ASU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

.

TED: MOST STATES REQUIRE A LICENSE FOR NON-MEDICAL IN-HOME CARE AGENCIES.

ARIZONA IS NOT ONE OF THEM.

THAT MEANS THERE IS NO STATE REGULATORY BODY OR GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY TO OVERSEE NON-MEDICAL HOME CARE SERVICES.

THE ARIZONA IN-HOME CARE ASSOCIATION IS LOOKING TO FILL THAT REGULATORY GAP AND STEVE ALFONSI IS PRESIDENT OF THE ARIZONA IN-HOME CARE ASSOCIATION -- BOY, YOU GUYS AND YOUR TITLES TODAY.

A LONG SHOW FOR ALL THAT STUFF.

I THINK, FROM WHAT I'M FINDING OUT HERE, THIS IS SOMETHING THE STATE COULD HAVE BEEN DOING BUT IS NOT DOING?

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

>> THAT'S TRUE, AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE AND SHARE A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT OUR ASSOCIATION.

A LOT OF STATES HAVE LICENSE IN PLACE, BUT THERE'S NOT ONE HERE, AND THAT'S WHY THE ARIZONA IN-HOME CARE ASSOCIATION, WE TOOK IT UPON OURSELVES, CREATED THE ASSOCIATION TO PUT ETHICS, STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES AROUND THIS TO PROVIDE AND THE SAFETY OF THE MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, SENIORS.

TED: YOU ARE A DE FACTO AGENCY, SO TO SPEAK?

>> WE DON'T JUST COLLECT DUES.

WE HAVE A VARIETY OF THINGS IN PLACE FOR A LARGE GROUP OF COMPANIES THAT DECIDED TO BE PART OF THE ASSOCIATION TO PROTECT SENIORS.

>> THIS IS FOR NON-MEDICAL CARE, CORRECT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

THAT'S THE MISUNDERSTANDING, THERE IS HOME HEALTH, IT IS MADE UP OF A PRESCRIBED SERVICE, WHEN YOU THINK OF AN INDIVIDUAL THAT MIGHT BE DISCHARGED OUT OF THE HOSPITAL, NEEDING PHYSICAL THERAPY, OCCUPATIONAL OR SPEECH THERAPY, THAT IS SEPARATE AND A LICENSED BODY AND SERVICE.

WE'RE PART OF A HOME CARE ASSOCIATION AND GROUP PROVIDING MORE AROUND THE ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING.

AS WE ALL AGE, THINGS BECOME MORE CHALLENGING, HYGIENE, DRESSING, BATHING, ALL THOSE THINGS AND THAT'S WHERE THE CAREGIVER SERVICES GO IN THIS.

TED: YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO TOO FAR IN THIS, BUT I'M CURIOUS, WHY ISN'T THE STATE INVOLVED IN THIS?

>> I'M NOT HERE TO GET INTO THAT.

IT BECOMES A CHALLENGING AND TOUGH CONVERSATION.

OVER THE YEARS AND HISTORICALLY, ARIZONA IS PRO BUSINESS, AND WITHIN THAT, THERE'S A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT THINGS OF NOT GETTING INTO A LOT OF DIFFERENT REGULATIONS AND WE CREATED OUR OWN ASSOCIATION TO HELP PROVIDE A DIFFERENCE AND DEFINITELY ARE THINGS THAT WE DO THAT IS REQUIRED IN OUR GROUP.

>> YOU HAVE SYSTEMS OF STANDARDS FOR HOME CARE AGENCIES, CORRECT?

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

TED: A SYSTEM OF CERTIFICATION AS WELL.

TALK ABOUT THAT.

>> EACH COMPANY THAT IS PART OF THE ASSOCIATION, SOME OF THE REQUIREMENTS THROUGH THE APPLICATION PROCESS, SOME OF THE THINGS THEY HAVE TO HAVE IN PLACE IS WORKERS' COMP.

YOU THINK ABOUT THAT.

ALL THE CAREGIVERS ARE GOING OUT THERE.

IF SOMETHING WAS TO HAPPEN AND IF THEY'RE SEPARATELY HIRED BY AN INDIVIDUAL, THERE COULD BE A WORKERS' COMP CASE.

HOME OWNERS INSURANCE IS NOT GOING TO COVER THAT.

WITH PART OF THE WORK, YOU HAVE WORKERS' COMP, GENERAL LIABILITY, PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY AND DO BACKGROUND ON THE EMPLOYEE.

TED: WHAT ABOUT CONSUMER ACCOUNTABILITY?

>> YES, WE DO THE SAME THING, WE ARE TRYING TO WATCH OUT ALL INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED WHETHER IT BE FROM THE CLIENT, THE CAREGIVERS AND A VARIETY OF INDIVIDUALS TO PROTECT EVERYBODY THAT'S INVOLVED.

TED: AS FAR AS STANDARDS ARE, I WANT TO GO BACK TO STANDARDS HERE.

HOW DO YOU DEFINE STANDARDS AND HOW DO YOU MAKE SURE STANDARDS ARE BEING MET?

>> SO EACH INDIVIDUAL OR COMPANY, AND WE HAVE A LITTLE OVER 100+ COMPANIES PART OF THE ASSOCIATION, THROUGH THE APPLICATION PROCESS HAVE TO FURNISH A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT THINGS AND THROUGH THAT, THEN OUR ASSOCIATION AND OUR ETHICS COMMITTEE AND GROUP WILL VERIFY AND VALIDATE THAT THOSE THINGS ARE IN PLACE, AND ONGOING EACH YEAR WE'LL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THEM AS LONG AS THEY'RE MAKING SURE ALL THE THINGS ARE STAYING TRUE.

IN ADDITION TO, WHICH WE TELL THEM CONSUMERS THAT ARE OUT THERE ARE GETTING SERVICES.

IF THEY RUN INTO A BAD PLAYER IN THE INDUSTRY, NOTIFY US.

WE ARE THERE AS AN ASSOCIATION TO HELP OUT AS WELL.

TED: AND YOU'RE WATCHING OUT FOR ETHICS, FOR HIRING, WATCHING FOR CONSUMER PROTECTION, ALL THOSE THINGS?

>> YES.

THINK ABOUT IT, THE SENIOR POPULATION IS VERY VULNERABLE AND INDIVIDUALS RELOCATE HERE OR HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS RESIDING IN OTHER STATES.

THEY'RE ASSUMING AND THINKING THAT EVERY STATE IS THE SAME, AND THAT'S NOT TRUE.

WE HAVE TO CREATE THIS ASSOCIATION TO WATCH OUT FOR THE BEST INTEREST OF NOT ONLY THOSE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING CARE FOR AND CREATING A DIFFERENCE, BUT ALONG WITH THAT EVEN THE EMPLOYEES THAT ARE PART OF THE GROUP.

TED: FOR THE STANDARDS AND CERTIFICATION THAT'S INVOLVED, HOW IS IT BEING ASSESSED?

WHO IS DOING THE ASSESSING AND WHO IS ASSESSING THE ASSESSORS?

>> WE HAVE AN ETHICS COMMITTEE.

WE ARE NOT STATE REGULATED, WE'RE SELF REGULATED.

WE ARE ACTIVELY INVOLVED, VOLUNTEERING OUR TIME TO KEEP A GOOD EYE OUT IN THE MARKETPLACE.

TED: HOW TOUGH IS THE ACCREDITATION?

>> IT'S ACCREDITATION, IT IS TOUGH BECAUSE COMPANIES HAVE A CHOICE, AND THAT'S WHY I ASK ALL OF THEM TO BE PART OF THIS GROUP.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, THEY'RE CHOOSE NOT TO CARRY GENERAL LIABILITY INSURANCE.

THEY'RE CHOOSING NOT TO HAVE WORKERS' COMP.

THEY'RE CHOOSING NOT TO BACKGROUND.

WE'RE TRYING TO CONSISTENTLY GO THROUGH INVITING OTHERS TO PART OF THIS ASSOCIATION AND BRING IN AWARENESS ALSO TO THAT OF THE HOSPITAL SYSTEMS AND OTHERS WHEN THEY DO REFER OVER A NEEDING CARE, THEY ASK THE PROPER QUESTIONS OR CONSIDER A COMPANY WITHIN THE ARIZONA IN-HOME CARE ASSOCIATION.

TED: THAT'S WHAT I WAS GOING TO ASK AS WELL, ACCREDITATION IS ONE THING, THIS IS A WAY TO SAY THIS AGENCY IS HERE, WANTS NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU, MAYBE THERE IS A REASON THEY WANT NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU.

>> WHETHER IT BE FROM A FINANCIAL ASPECT OR THEIR OWN PERSONAL NEEDS OR GAINS BUT WITHIN OUR ASSOCIATION, OUR PURPOSE IS CENTERED AROUND PATIENT-CENTERED CARE AND WHAT'S BEST FOR THE INDIVIDUAL.

TED: SOMEONE IS WATCHING RIGHT NOW.

IN-HOME CARE, NON-MEDICAL IN-HOME CARE FOR A FRIEND, NEIGHBOR-FRIEND, WHATEVER.

WHAT ARE THE BEST QUESTIONS THEY SHOULD ASK, BESIDE FINDING OUT IF THEY'RE PART OF YOUR GROUP?

>> FIRST THING IS GO TO OUR WEBSITE AZNHA.ORG.

IF THEY'RE NOT DOING THAT, ASK THE QUESTIONS, IT'S A MARKETING PIECE, INDIVIDUALS COME OUT, SIT WITH THE FAMILY AND SAY WE BACKGROUND CHECK.

FOLLOW-UP QUESTION, DO YOU BACKGROUND CHECK EVERYBODY.

ANOTHER QUESTION, DO YOU CARRY INSURANCE?

YES, WE CARRY INSURANCE.

WORKERS' COMP?

GENERAL LIABILITY?

WHO ARE YOU PROTECT?

YOU NEED TO DIVE IN AND ASK THE QUESTIONS NEVER JUST FOR THE SAFETY OF A LOVED ONE.

TED: STEVE ALFONSI, IN-HOME CARE ASSOCIATION.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

TED: THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

♪