Tuesday, October 29, 2002
Depression in the Elderly: Recognition and Treatment Article in
Clinical Geriatrics by Melinda S. Lantz which argues that depression in the elderly is under-recognized and under-treated - and its diagnosis "often made more complicated by the presence of multiple medical co-morbidities and the need for medications for chronic conditions." (
Adobe Acrobat format)
One Stressed-Out Industry Washington Post feature story - "...far from being flush with profits and promise, the $4.5 billion managed behavioral health care industry is in flux. Some companies, including the largest, are having financial problems. Others say they are making money. Some psychiatrists and psychologists, frustrated by low fees and bureaucratic hassles, are leaving managed-care networks all together. Other providers, meanwhile, are joining them."
The Nation's Response to the Call: A National Showcase of Faces and Voices of Recovery Month Webcast tomorrow at 3 PM (EST) that "highlights Recovery Month events and activities held throughout the country during the month of September 2002. These events all promote treatment and recovery, and celebrate individuals who work in the field to help those in need. This program aims to put a face and voice on recovery, and to salute those who have suffered from addiction and have the strength and courage to reclaim happy and healthy lives."
A Toolkit for Hispanic/Latino Community Groups Online resources from Hablemos en Confianza, including a fact sheet on substance abuse in the Hispanic/Latino community and models for organizing and building successful prevention programs, with detailed appendices.
Mental health chief testifies (Maine) Bangor Daily News story on testimony by the state commissioner of the Department of Behavioral and Developmental Services in "a closely watched trial to determine the future of a 1990 consent decree that ordered the state to make widespread changes in the mental health care system." See the
related item posted here yesterday.
More say mental care was denied (Massachusetts) Boston Globe story - "Complaints by Massachusetts consumers who say they were denied mental-health treatment have more than tripled this year, with most of the appeals filed against Magellan Health Services, a Maryland company that oversees mental health care for 1.1 million residents."
State agency 'questionable' billing practice criticized (New Hampshire) Story in the
Manchester Union Leader on a new state report indicating that "the state mental health division and its affiliated community agencies for eight years have employed a “questionable” billing arrangement involving millions of dollars in federal Medicaid funds." Issues have arisen because the state mental health division encouraged community mental health agencies to provide services in community settings rather than their offices, resulting in the "accumulation of 'holdback accounts' containing Medicaid money not included in the state’s budget and kept by the 10 community agencies."
Mental health agency plans 2 homes (Michigan) Lansing State Journal story on a $2 million project by Clinton-Eaton-Ingham Community Mental Health to open two residential homes here next month - "a move expected to save $459,620 a year."
Help available for survivors (Missouri) Story in
The Standard Democrat on the Southeast Missouri Suicide Prevention Program, which is "prompted by a need in the area and increased suicides in the past 18 months" and is made possible through a Department of Mental Health grant obtained by the Foundation of the Dexter Community Regional Healthcare Facility.
Grant to give mentally ill foster care (Texas) El Paso Times story - "El Paso County has won two grants totaling $10.5 million, the largest of which -- $9.3 million -- will help the county establish a network of foster-care group homes to house children with mental-health problems."
