Monday, April 14, 2003

Virginia managed-care suit finally heads to trial
Article in the most recent APA Monitor - "The case the Virginia Academy of Clinical Psychologists (VACP) filed against Care First (formerly Blue Cross/Blue Shield of the National Capital Area) and its mental health subcontractor (formerly Value Options) to hold the companies accountable for essentially putting profits ahead of patients--by not providing the services it promised to consumers or providers--is scheduled for trial on April 7. After many delays, several judges and a couple of pretrial hearings, the moment this group of Virginia psychologists and consumers has been waiting for is here." See also the long road to trial, which provides a case chronology.  
  

America's Mental Health Crisis: Finding Solutions Together: 2003 Annual NMHA Conference
Home page of the 2003 NMHA Conference, to be held June 3-7 in Washington DC - "In 2003, the mental health community will face major budget problems brought on by deep cuts and shifting priorities. Collaboration is our best solution – working with consumers, families, legislators, government agencies, and mental health professionals to develop the answers. NMHA's 2003 Annual Conference program will provide a forum for finding solutions together and exploring the value of partnerships and relationships." Please see, too, the Exhibitor Prospectus (Adobe Acrobat format) and the page with information about conference scholarships for consumers.  
  

Medical Privacy Rule Provokes Lawsuit
Story at Crosswalk - "The Bush administration's new regulations governing medical privacy take effect on April 14, but some privacy advocates are so alarmed at the fine print that they've filed a lawsuit in federal court. ... The lawsuit was brought by a coalition of health privacy groups and physicians, including the American Psychoanalytic Association and the National Coalition of Mental Health Professionals. The suit alleges that the privacy rule as written runs contrary to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and that the rule violates the Fifth Amendment protection of liberty."