Monday, June 13, 2005

Increasing Premiums and Cost Sharing in Medicaid and SCHIP: Recent State Experiences Issue paper from the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Unisured - "Over the past few years, a number of states have implemented new or increased existing out-of-pocket costs for beneficiaries in their Medicaid, SCHIP, or other public coverage programs. This brief reviews the key findings from this recent activity, including the impact on enrollment in public coverage programs, access to care, and providers."  
  

The Latest Data on Mandatory and Optional Populations and Benefits in Medicaid Page at the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured web site with links to an issue paper and background report - "With discussions on restructuring Medicaid occurring in state capitols and Washington, two new reports provide the latest data on how much of Medicaid's spending is for covering mandatory versus optional populations and services. The analysis shows that although optional populations account for 29 percent of Medicaid enrollment, 60 percent of all Medicaid spending (whether for mandatory or optional populations) is optional and 86 percent of optional spending is for the elderly or individuals with disabilities. The issue paper is a brief summary of the data and the discussion of the practical implications for policy changes and the background report is a more detailed examination which includes the methodology of the analysis and many charts and tables."  
  

Former CMS Administrator Scully Says Medicaid Reform Plan Unlikely This Year Item in the Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report - "Congress is unlikely to develop a plan to reform Medicaid this year, despite the fact that the program's problems are "100 times" worse than those of Medicare, former CMS Administrator Tom Scully said Wednesday, CQ HealthBeat reports. Speaking at a meeting of the American Association for Homecare, Scully said a comprehensive Medicaid reform plan would require approval from the governors, and no governor would be willing to accept the funding reductions that would be required of some states..."  
  

Patients fear Florida's new policies on prescribing psychiatric medication Sun-Sentinel story on changes to the process for prescribing psychiatric medications - "...Some mental health professionals warn the decision could endanger the health of mentally ill patients. To save $292 million in the state's $2.5 billion drug program for the poor and disabled, Gov. Jeb Bush's administration persuaded the Florida Legislature this spring to impose strict limits on patient access to mental health drugs. It includes making brand-name drugs less accessible and requiring the poor and disabled to start off on the cheapest drugs first." See also A looming crisis for mentally ill people, a statement by the APA that appeared in the Miami Herald.  
  

Democrats, veterans press for extended mental-health care for service members  Stars and Stripes article - "More mental health resources are needed to deal with stress from Iraq and Afghanistan now, before those veterans develop even more serious mental problems, according to Democrats and veteran support agencies. On Thursday both groups lobbied for legislation to increase funding for mental health treatment, to extend health-care coverage for veterans returning from war, and to force the Department of Veterans Affairs to develop a long-term plan for treating troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. ... Earlier, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson offered a mixed reaction to a host of Democrat-sponsored bills, voicing support for general plans to improve mental health care but rebuffing most of their legislative efforts. He said a long-term mental health plan is already being developed by department officials, although no deadline has been set." See also Legislators seek to close gaps in veterans' mental health coverage in The Olympian (Washington).
  
  

Options to reduce mentally ill population in prisons (Masssachusetts) Chelmsford Independent story - "By sending mentally ill criminal offenders to prison instead of treating their sickness, the state is wasting money and potentially endangering those in the communities offenders return to, supporters of decriminalization bills told lawmakers Monday. ... More than a quarter of nearly 10,000 state prisoners are receiving mental health services, including more than 60 percent of the female inmate population, according to the state Department of Corrections. Nationally, there are more mental illness sufferers in the criminal justice system than there are in psychiatric hospitals, decriminalization proponents said, citing Human Rights Campaign data. The Committee on Mental Health and Substance abuse is weighing several proposals to address the problem."  
  

Kudos for City Court's Mental Health Division (Arizona) Opinion column in the Tucson Citizen - "... Since 2000, 3,100 defendants have successfully completed the diversion program. The program's effect on the community was shown in a recent study by the University of Arizona's Eller College of Management. Defendants entering the program in 2002 had an average of seven criminal charges in the prior two years. More than half of those completing diversion had no additional charges in the two years afterward, the study found. Crimes of violence declined by more than 75 percent. Defendants with 10 or more charges experienced a 61 percent reduction in offenses after completing diversion. The participating agencies constituting the Mental Health Division deserve recognition."  
  

Report: Jails' mental health care poor (New York) Newsday story - "New York's prisons have too much use of harsh disciplinary measures and not enough mental health care or education programs, according to a report released today by the Correctional Association of New York, a watchdog agency. But a spokesman for the state Department of Correctional Services said the 163-page report isn't worthy of a response. The state houses 64,000 inmates in 70 prisons around the state. On the plus side, the report said there are good programs and well-run facilities, though the system has a way to go in key areas." The full report is not yet available at the Correction Association web site, but likely will be posted soon. Readers may also be interested in a June 2004 report, Mental Health in the House of Corrections: A Study of Mental Health Care in New York State Prisons.  
  

Backers of mental health law offer cost compromise (New York) WSTM story - "Supporters of a bill to mandate mental health care coverage in New York, have changed their legislation to make it more favorable to small businesses.If passed, Timothy's Law would require health insurance companies to pay for the same amount of care for mental illness as they do for physical illness. Despite majority party support in both houses of the Legislature, the bill has languished for years. Supports say they've now offered a compromise to assuage the fears of business groups who contend the law would be too expensive."