Thursday, March 18, 2004
West Wales mental health 'failure' (UK)BBC story - "The NHS trust which runs mental health services in west Wales has been severely criticised in a report by the health service watchdog. The Commission for Health Improvement said the services provided by Pembrokeshire and Derwen NHS trust were 'threadbare' and 'failing'."
Senate to block mental-health bill (New York)Democrat and Chronicle story - "As hundreds rallied on the lawn of the State Capitol on Tuesday to support a mandate for more health insurance coverage for mental illnesses, key legislators said the Senate would block the measure. The bill, named 'Timothy’s Law' by supporters, would order health insurance providers to cover mental health treatments the same as they do physical illnesses. Currently, only a limited number of doctor visits are allowed for mental health patients under most insurance plans. But such a measure is too costly, said Senate Mental Health Committee Chairman Thomas Libous, R-Binghamton. The Legislature’s top Republican agreed..."
Johanns visits to tout mental health reforms (Nebraska)Story in the
Columbus Telegram - "An uproar was heard across the state when Gov. Mike Johanns proposed closing the Norfolk and Hastings regional centers for mental health care. Local professionals from many fields said eliminating these inpatient facilities would spell disaster. Now, it appears the tide of opinion is slowly turning, not only here but across Nebraska, according to the governor..." See also
Lawmakers to undertake mental health debate today at the same source - "
The key for Johanns and the reform's supporters is developing a network of care in communities across the state to treat people closer to their homes. Doing that would remove the need for the two regional centers, they say, while at the same time provide patients with care that will be less disruptive to their lives. Closing the two regional centers also would make Nebraska eligible for federal Medicaid money it cannot now access..."
Mental health workers hope senator's plea touched many (Oregon)Story in
The Oregonian on "...the willingness of Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Ore., and his wife, Sharon, to talk so publicly about their son Garrett and his mental illness less than six months after his suicide. The senator testified March 2 before a U.S. Senate subcommittee on suicide among young people. Sharon Smith spoke to reporters afterward, saying their family realized that many others who are struggling with mental illness in their families needed help. In his statement, Gordon Smith urged funding for efforts to screen youth for mental illnesses and suicide risk and for expanded mental and behavioral health services to college students."
Lawmakers debate mental health reform plan (Iowa)Sioux City Journal story - "A plan to close mental health regional centers in Norfolk and Hastings got an afternoon of debate on Wednesday but it won't be back before lawmakers until at least early next week. Speaker of the Legislature Curt Bromm is hopeful that compromises can be reached behind the scenes before then. ... In what could be a telling vote, the Legislature rejected an amendment that would have required community-based resources to be operational at least six months before a center could be closed. The amendment, by Sen. Gene Tyson of Norfolk, also would have required another bill to be introduced in the Legislature after that date to close a center."
Journals to bolster mental health research Article at the Science and Development Network (UK) web site - " Editors from some of the world's leading medical journals have pledged to increase the amount of mental health research from developing countries that is published in their journals. In a joint statement with the World Health Organisation (WHO), 42 editors representing journals such as the
British Medical Journal and
The Lancet agreed to reduce the barriers that impede publication of mental health research from the world's poorer nations. ... Researchers from developing countries often fail to meet the rigorous requirements of the world's top journals because of limited access to information, lack of advice on research design and statistics, difficulty in writing in a foreign language and overall material, financial and infrastructural constraints. As a result, most research from such countries is published in low-profile journals that are not widely distributed."
Resolution eliminates noncounty patients at Mental Health Center (Wisconsin)Green Bay Press Gazette story - "After a spirited debate Wednesday, the Brown County Board told the Brown County Mental Health Center to stop admitting voluntary out-of-county patients. The decision, approved as a resolution, was one of the key recommendations of the Mental Health Task Force that has studied the Mental Health Center. ... According to the task force, the daily Medicaid reimbursement that Brown County receives for out-of-county residents does not meet the actual costs of their care. Also, the federal government won't allow Brown County to charge other counties an additional fee to recoup that difference."
Onslow studies mental health agency merger (North Carolina)Daily News story - "Carteret County leaders soon could consider joining Onslow County to oversee and provide services for people with mental health, substance abuse and developmental disabilities. The Onslow County Board of Commissioners has approved the concept of Carteret County joining Onslow Behavioral Healthcare Services, but a final decision is far away. For Onslow County, a potential merger would help the county meet state mental health reform requirements that mental health agencies serve at least 200,000 people..."
