Wednesday, March 03, 2004

Plan threatens local services (Illinois)
Quincy Herald-Whig story - " Mike Rein, director of Transitions of Western Illinois, says sweeping changes in how the state funds programs for the disabled and mentally ill could leave 500 Adams County residents without service. Other experts say ill-conceived changes in state-funded programs could eliminate service for up to 51,000 people statewide, including 15,000 children. Supporters of community agencies from across the state are watching to see what becomes of two proposals laid out by Gov. Rod Blagojevich in his state budget speech Feb. 18. Blagojevich announced that he plans to stop giving grants to local agencies that rely on the regular payments to provide care for the developmentally disabled and mentally ill. Instead, he wants the agencies to provide the care first, then bill the state..."  
  

Painkiller linked to rise in overdose deaths
A New Scientist press release at EurekAlert - "Doctors prescribing methadone for pain relief may inadvertently be the cause of an alarming rise in deaths related to the drug in the US. Forensic science experts fear that a huge increase in methadone prescriptions is feeding the black market and encouraging abuse. In 2001, the Food and Drug Administration's MedWatch programme recorded 61 methadone-related deaths in the US. That is more than occurred in the whole of the 1990s, and by 2002 the number had doubled to 123. The figures confirm reports from Maine, Florida, Oklahoma, North Carolina, West Virginia and Maryland that methadone-related deaths are rising..."  
  

Scathing 400-Page Report Uncovers Unaccounted Kids (Maryland)
WBAL story - "A scathing new report on Baltimore City's Department of Social Services uncovers hundreds of kids who have fallen through the cracks, WBAL-TV ... reported. The report shows children unaccounted for -- possibly more than 1,000 of them -- and caseload statistics that have been false for years, Simms said. Both are part of the findings in a report on DSS that was recently submitted to federal court, and 11 News obtained a copy Tuesday night. Line after line in the 400-page report lists problems and discrepancies plaguing the DSS, an agency that serves more than 7,000 children. The report claims a whole generation has not received the services and protections required by the federal court..."  
  

NAMI Joins Senator Bob Dole in Medicare Drug Benefit Information Campaign
PR Newswire press release at Yahoo - "NAMI, The Nation's Voice on Mental Illness, today announced that Director of Federal Legislative Advocacy Andrew Sperling will join former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole on a nationwide speaking tour highlighting the impact of the new Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit on seniors and people living with disabilities. Dole and Sperling will appear together in Columbus, Ohio, on March 11 to explain improvements in Medicare and to encourage people to enroll to receive its benefits. Visits to other cities are also being planned."  
  

County to review health care report (New York)
Finger Lakes Times story - "Discussions have started about the future of Ontario County’s health care operations. Members of the county’s Health and Medical Services Committee heard a presentation yesterday by Jerry Archibald, a certified public accountant with The Bonadio Co., of Rochester, hired by the county last year to look at health care provided by the county. The areas reviewed included the roughly 100-bed health facility that provides long-term care, substance abuse and mental health departments. Items discussed in the report included combining the substance abuse and mental health departments, which could cut down on administration costs. The report also showed that other health care providers, particularly those in the area of long-term care, feel they could take over the county operations..."  
  

Mental health centers may not have to close (Missouri)
St. Louis Post-Dispatch story - "Two mental health centers scheduled to close June 30 might remain open after all, the director of the state Department of Mental Health said Tuesday. Gov. Bob Holden, in his budget plan for the fiscal year that starts July 1, proposed to save $7.4 million by closing the Cottonwood Children's Center in Cape Girardeau and the Southwest Missouri Psychiatric Rehabilitation Center in El Dorado Springs. But Dorn Schuffman, director of the Department of Mental Health, told a House appropriations committee Tuesday he thought both centers might be saved..."  
  

Mental health contract unaltered (Arizona)
Arizona Republic story - "The Arizona Department of Health Services on Tuesday refused to reconsider its decision to award a $1.3 billion mental health services contract to Virginia-based ValueOptions. Schaller Anderson, a Phoenix company that also bid, was protesting. In a written statement, Joe Anderson, Schaller's chairman and chief executive officer, said the firm was "very disappointed" in the state's decision and is still considering whether to appeal it. The Arizona Department of Administration director can review the case and take action, or refer it to the state Office of Administrative Hearings. Also Tuesday, state health officials shot down Schaller's allegation that information about Schaller's bid was leaked to ValueOptions, and that the state was unduly influenced to select ValueOptions..."  
  

Mental health problems, substance abuse often linked (South Carolina)
Georgetown Times story - "Mental health and substance abuse professionals from around South Carolina gathered at the Myrtle Beach convention center last week to talk about how they can help more people by coordinating their efforts. In a three-day meeting at the Radisson Plaza Hotel and Conference Center, Feb. 22-24, several hundred people from hospitals, state and local mental health agencies, drug abuse prevention programs and the state’s legal system discussed ways they can improve treatment for their clients."  
  

Blumenthal, Milstein launch investigation into mental health (Connecticut)
Story in Newsday - "The state's attorney general and child advocate launched an investigation Wednesday into Connecticut's mental health care system and managed care industry, which they said are 'warehousing' mentally ill children and sometimes worsen their conditions. Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said the probe is not criminal in nature but said it may involve illegal activity and could lead to civil lawsuits. One key problem, Child Advocate Jeanne Milstein said, is that the state confines many children in residential treatment facilities _ many of which are out of state _ instead of using community treatment programs. .."