Wednesday, November 27, 2002
Wyoming Launches Most Comprehensive Anti-Drug Plan in U.S. Feature article at
Join Together - "As many states cut social-services spending and raid their portion of the 1998 nationwide tobacco settlement to close budget deficits, Wyoming has passed a remarkable piece of legislation that offers a ray of hope to advocates for treatment and prevention nationwide." The article is found in the section of the
Join Together web site titled
Demand Treatment! - "a national initiative to increase the number of people who get quality treatment for alcohol and other drug problems. The first step to increasing treatment is to get consumers, family members, and key leaders to take steps to drive up demand."
Panel Urges Millions for Homes for the Mentally Ill (New York) New York Times article on a report by the Pataki administration "calling for hundreds of millions of dollars of spending on new services and housing to overhaul New York's decades-old system of adult homes for the mentally ill." [Viewing
New York Times resources requires registration, which is free].
Internet Support Groups for Depression: A 1-Year Prospective Cohort Study Abstract of an article in the
American Journal of Psychiatry which concludes that users of online depressions upport groups "perceived considerable benefit from the group," and that such groups "warrant continued research regarding supplementation of face-to-face depression care." Full text of the article is available for a fee.
Auditor orders Netcare Corp. to repay $255K in Medicaid billings (Ohio) Story at
Business First of Columbus - "Netcare Corp., one of Franklin County's largest mental health agencies, has been ordered by the state auditor's office to repay $255,051 in erroneous Medicaid billings. The improper payments resulted from duplicate Medicaid claims, missing and unsigned documentation in support of claims and incorrect billing for mental health services, according to an audit report..."
Depression on the rise among young (UK) Story in
The Guardian on a new report from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation which indicates that "the number of young people battling depression has doubled in 12 years, as hundreds of thousands find themselves excluded from rising levels of education and prosperity..."
Severity of mental illnesses hikes cost (Ohio) Cleveland Plain Dealer story - "Cuyahoga County has such high numbers of adults and children with severe mental illnesses that people with less serious psychiatric problems don't get treated in the public system, a new study says. The county mental health system spends the vast majority of its money on 15,000 people with the most serious disorders, the Federation for Community Planning says in a preliminary report."
Mental crisis facility too costly? (California) Story in
The Union - "The cost to establish a crisis stabilization unit for mental health clients in dire straights is out of reach for Nevada County," due to "the state's ongoing budget crisis and expected cuts to county programs."
County backs off plan to drop mental centers (Michigan) Muskegon Chronicle story - "Parents and caregivers of Ottawa County's developmentally disabled claimed victory Monday in an emotional battle to prevent a major overhaul in daily programs for more than 300 residents. Amid mounting opposition from those who work and live with disabled residents, Ottawa County's Community Mental Health Board agreed Monday to maintain three centers for mental health clients..."
