Monday, April 21, 2003

States, Facing Budget Shortfalls, Cut the Major and the Mundane
New York Times story - "The states are desperate, struggling with their worst financial crises since World War II. They have tapped rainy day funds, raided tobacco money that was supposed to have provided health care for children and taxed every possible vice. ... Now, as states scramble to find ways to cut nearly $100 billion this year and next from budgets that must by law be balanced, the cuts are much larger, and their effects profound. It is not just that states are withdrawing health care for the poor and mentally ill. They are also dismissing state troopers, closing parks and schools, dropping bus routes, eliminating college scholarships and slashing a host of other services that have long been taken for granted." [Viewing New York Times resources requires registration, which is free].  
  

HIPAA Privacy Rule
A collection of articles at Medscape on "changes for physicians, hospitals, health plans, and other 'covered entities' that transmit patients' health information electronically, all of whom are required to comply." [Viewing Medscape resources requires registration, which is free].  
  

NCCBH Conference Urges Primary Care Collaboration
Mental Health Weekly story at Medscape on last week's annual training conference of the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare - "Having dealt for over a year with the anxiety of seeing a federal push to establish integrated behavioral health services at primary care clinics, community mental health centers (CMHCs) under NCCBH now appear more ready than ever to see this development as an opportunity for collaboration instead of a threat to their existence." [Viewing Medscape resources requires registration, which is free].  
  

Stress Is Up. So Why Are Mental Health Benefits Down?
Story in the "Business" section of the New York Times - "The continuing uncertainties of war, terrorism and the weak economy have left many people longing for stability and looking for ways to cope. But just when some people could arguably gain the most by spending a little time on a therapist's couch, their mental health benefits are at risk." [Viewing New York Times resources requires registration, which is free].