Thursday, March 31, 2005

Showdown in the Show-Me State: Gov. Blunt vs. Medicaid Report, in Adobe Acrobat format, from Families USA - "Governor Blunt and the Missouri General Assembly have proposed some of the largest Medicaid cuts of any state in the nation. Under their plan, more than one in 10 Medicaid enrollees will lose coverage altogether, and many more will lose access to essential health care services. Families USA analyzed the Missouri proposal and found [that] Governor Blunt has proposed slashing Medicaid eligibility levels for parents from 75 percent of the federal poverty level to 30 percent; 60,000 parents will lose their Medicaid coverage completely; if this cut is enacted, Missouri’s eligibility level for working parents will drop to 47th in the nation."  
  

Mental Disorders Are on the Rise Among Afghanistan, Iraq Veterans USA Today story reprinted at MentalHelpNet - "As many as one out of four veterans of Afghanistan and Iraq treated at Veterans Affairs hospitals in the past 16 months were diagnosed with mental disorders, a number that has been steadily rising, according to a report in today's New England Journal of Medicine. Records show that 20% of eligible ex-soldiers came to VA hospitals seeking medical treatment between October 2003 and February 2005. Overall, 26% of them were diagnosed with mental disorders, say Han Kang and Kenneth Hyams of the VA." The report is available for a fee at the NEJM web site.  
  

Trauma Stress Examined Dominion Post story reprinted at MentalHelpNet - "Post-traumatic stress disorder may be more common than most people think. Five in 100 men, and 10 in 100 women will get post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in their lifetime, according to research from Britain's National Institute for Clinical Excellence reported by BBC News. The institute says PTSD is under-recognised and is urging better screening and treatment by issuing new guidelines. Symptoms, including flashbacks, anger, anxiety and depression, can occur soon after a traumatic event or years later."  
  

Mental Health Commission supports Rights Action Plan (New Zealand) Story at Scoop - "The Mental Health Commission congratulates the Human Rights Commission for its stand on improving the human rights of New Zealanders, including those with mental illness, in its Action Plan. Mental Health Commissioner Mary O’Hagan said she is especially pleased that the Human Rights Commission has recognised two critical human rights issues in mental health clinical practice – the use of seclusion and compulsory treatment."  
  

Mental health center's winning approach puts consumers first (Colorado) Rocky Mountain News story - "Winning the prestigious Community Provider of Excellence award from the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare is an honor, but chances are the people who work at the Mental Health Center of Denver are more concerned with individuals than honors. ... 'Our approach is not to just focus on what's wrong with somebody, or what their limitations are, but what their strengths are,' said Marijo Rymer, associate director of communications for the MHCD, which was formed in 1989 by the merger of four neighborhood organizations. Moreover, he said, 'We know that people with mental illness need more than psychotropic drugs and therapy. They need jobs and a social life. They need good medical care. They need a place to live.' "  
  

Bills could affect mental health services (Texas) Kerrville Daily Times story - "Kerr County Judge Pat Tinley gave a lengthy explanation Monday regarding legislation that, in his opinion, could adversely affect the rural mental health authorities and their funding. The two bills currently in the Legislature that could potentially affect the funding and mental health services, HB470 and SB194, target the “delivery of aging, disability, behavioral health and mental retardation services.” The state is attempting to consolidate funding on a local level."  
  

Bread and Shelter, Yes. Psychiatrists, No. Essay in the New York Times on "Project One Billion," an international conference organized by Dr. Richard Mollica, a psychiatrist at Harvard, under the auspices of the World Bank, the World Health Organization, and humanitarian nonprofit organizations - "Days after the tsunami struck South Asia, American mental health workers flew to Sri Lanka to offer counseling services to grief-stricken victims. ... Sri Lankan health officials saw things slightly differently. They discouraged aid agencies that offered to send counselors to their country. ... 'One billion' signified the number of people worldwide, roughly one in six, suffering the psychological consequences of war, torture and terrorism. And though these people suffered human-caused horror rather than natural disaster, the question still applies: can outsiders bearing therapy provide meaningful help in times of crisis? One thing is clear. Even before strife ripped these societies apart, many of them had pitiful mental health systems..." [Viewing New York Times resources requires registration, which is free].  
  

Compromise mental health bill advances (South Carolina) Story at The State - "A bill that would require insurance companies to cover treatment for mental illness in South Carolina is a step closer to a full airing in the General Assembly. After an emotional — sometimes nasty — public hearing, the House subcommittee on insurance on Wednesday passed a pared-down version of a Senate bill that offers coverage for nine mental disorders. Attempts to pass a state law adding mental health coverage to standard insurance policies have failed since 1996. In a compromise forged Wednesday, insurance coverage for the mentally ill would be limited to a total of 105 days a year. Key lawmakers insisted a cap was the bill’s only chance of passage. In the end, mental health advocates gave in..."  
  

Task force to outline mental health reform (New Jersey) New Jersey Times story - "Acting Gov. Richard J. Codey's mental health task force is set to present a final report today calling for widespread changes to mental health services across the state, an administration source said yesterday. The 300-page report will outline some 50 recommendations to improve mental health programs, including a proposal to expand inpatient facilities, such as the Trenton Psychiatric Hospital in Ewing. Bob Davison, the task force's chairman, said yesterday the goal of the report is to help people who suffer from mental illness fully engage in their lives rather than simply recover from their symptoms." See also the preview of the report at NorthJersey.com.