Thursday, April 10, 2003
Public Health and Aging: Trends in Aging A report in
Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report at
Medscape that "presents data from the U.S. Bureau of the Census, the World Health Organization, and the United Nations on U.S. and global trends in aging, including demographic and epidemiologic transitions, increasing medical and social costs related to aging, and the implications for public health." [Viewing
Medscape resources requires registration, which is free].
Pennsylvania Case Holds Symbolic Importance on the Confidentiality of Patient Records Article in
Mental Health Weekly at
Medscape - "A Pennsylvania county judge has ruled that improper efforts were made to terminate a Pittsburgh psychiatrist from a provider network for refusing to release patient records to a managed behavioral health care company. ... The case has more moral significance than legal precedent-setting value because of the low level of the court in which it was decided." [Viewing
Medscape resources requires registration, which is free].
Bill Would Establish Child Welfare/Treatment and Prevention Grants Story in
Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Weekly at
Medscape - "A comprehensive bill that would allocate $200 million in fiscal 2004 and $575 million by fiscal 2008 for collaborative child welfare and substance abuse prevention and treatment efforts was introduced this month by Sen. Olympia Snowe (R.-Maine)." [Viewing
Medscape resources requires registration, which is free].
District Tests Voucher Approach That Could Go National Article in
Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Weekly at
Medscape - "A handful of urban communities with seemingly intractable drug use problems have become the nation's testing grounds for innovation in publicly financed addiction treatment. Add to the San Franciscos, Baltimores and Detroits a committed group of leaders in Washington, D.C., who have included a healthy dose of client empowerment in their innovation formula." [Viewing
Medscape resourcres requires registration, which is free].
American Psychiatric Association Unveils Blueprint to Save America’s Crumbling Mental Health System Press release (in
Adobe Acrobat format) from the APA - "The American Psychiatric Association unveiled today a far reaching blueprint to reform and rebuild our crumbling mental health system—A Vision for the Mental Health System—amidst the deepening funding crisis in state and local mental health services. The report was prepared by a blue-ribbon task force of psychiatrists from the public and private system. APA President Paul S. Appelbaum, M.D., in a stinging assessment of our nation’s mental health system, noted that deeper cuts in mental health services, particularly in state Medicaid programs, are leading to a “wholesale collapse of our mental health system.” The report's recommendations are based on 12 critical principles, and were prepared in anticipation of the Final Report of the President’s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health due in late April. See also the
full report (also in
Adobe Acrobat format).
3 counties vie for Butner project (North Carolina) Story in the
Herald-Sun - "In yet another twist to a yearlong saga, lawmakers from Chatham, Orange and Wake counties have sponsored bills to build a new psychiatric hospital in either Siler City or Raleigh rather than in Butner. ... Depending on funding, construction is still scheduled to begin in July 2004, with the state’s outdated John Umstead Hospital in Butner and Dorothea Dix in Raleigh to be closed several years down the road. ... The transition from four hospitals to three is the cornerstone of the state’s mental health reform plan, which calls for moving patients out of the aging, state-run facilities in favor of care homes closer to family and friends."
House approves Human Services overhaul (Vermont) Story in the
Times Argus - "The House passed a bill Wednesday that would set in motion a complete restructuring of how the state provides many of its social programs to residents. ... The agency is the largest in state government, consisting of the departments of aging and disabilities, corrections, health, mental health services, social and rehabilitation services, and social welfare."
Company gobbling up beds (Tennessee) Nashville City Paper story - "Psychiatric Solutions Inc., which operates mental health programs and facilities for children and adults, has been on a buying spree — acquiring more facilities so far this year than it initially planned."
Mulberry Center talks hit problems (Kentucky) Evansville Courier-Press story - "Talks between the Southwestern Indiana Mental Health Foundation and St. Mary's Medical Center on taking over outpatient psychiatric services at Mulberry Center have slowed as the parties try to resolve two stumbling blocks, one involving financial matters."
Wolff warns Legislature is shifting essential burden to counties (Texas) San Antonio Express-News story - "Proposed cuts in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program could cost Bexar County taxpayers more than $45 million, County Judge Nelson Wolff warned Wednesday... The county forecasts an additional $8.3 million in costs to care for uninsured patients from other counties and $14 million to maintain mental health services through the Center for Health Care Services..."
Ammiano zeroes in on 1,350 homeless (California) SF Gate story - "Homeless people who are mentally ill should not be left to fall through the cracks while San Francisco spends its resources on other homeless adults affected by the 'Care Not Cash' initiative, Supervisor Tom Ammiano warns."
