Saturday, November 02, 2002

Magellan gets loan extension on the very day its CEO resigns
Baltimore Sun story - "Magellan Health Services Inc. received a breather from its lenders yesterday and also announced the abrupt departure of its chief executive officer. Yesterday's action by its lenders gives Magellan at least until the end of the year to come into compliance with the terms of its loan agreements..." See also Magellan Health CEO Quits Amid Overhaul in the Washington Post and Mental-health insurer's woes threaten care, a North Jersey News story - "The mental-health care of millions of New Jersey residents may be jeopardized if financial troubles at the nation's largest mental-health insurer force it into bankruptcy. The potential failure of Magellan Health Services could result in interruptions in patient treatment and problems in getting authorization for hospital admissions or doctor visits. It could also cause delayed or reduced payments to hospitals, doctors, and therapists, hospital executives warn."  
  

The Center takes part in pilot treatment plan (Ohio)
News Journal story - "The Center for Individual and Family Services is piloting a new treatment approach as part of a national effort to implement 'evidence-based treatment.' ...Seven states, including Ohio, are taking part in a pilot program called Illness Management and Recovery. The project seeks to introduce proven, state-of-the-art treatment theory and techniques into practice in the real world..."  
  

AMHI trial stalled over testimony (Maine)
Kennebec Journal story - "A trial held in Kennebec County Superior Court concerning the state's mental health services ground to a halt on Friday as lawyers fought over what testimony will allowed to be heard. The tempest began during testimony by the Augusta Mental Health Institute's director of professional services."  
  

Ministers rethink Bill to lock up mentally ill (UK)
Story in The Independent - "Ministers are being forced into an embarrassing climbdown over a proposed new law to lock up mentally disordered people who have committed no offence. In the face of unprecedented opposition from professionals, patients and their own officials, and a five-month campaign by The Independent on Sunday, the Government has been forced to rethink the most controversial aspects of the Mental Health Bill." See also Why the Mental Health Bill is pure madness by Jeremy Laurance, health editor of The 'Independent on Sunday, who argues that "in the 10 years since the random killing of Jonathan Zito by paranoid schizophrenic Christopher Clunis, a desire to protect the public has taken priority over care of patients" and that "unless ministers strike the right balance between care and control ....there will be more tragedies."  
  

Young brains break. Then comes the broken care system
U.S. News story on the estimated 20 percent of all U.S. children and adolescents who have a diagnosable psychiatric disorder (13 percent of all adolescents experiencing "serious emotional disturbance") and the schools, pediatricians, psychiatrists, psychologists, cardiologists, child neurologists, behavioral pediatricians, and social workers in their lives.