Wednesday, November 19, 2003

Medicare Prescription Drugs: Conference Committee Agreement Asks Beneficiaries to Pay Too High a Price For Modest Benefit
A report by Gail Shearer, director of health policy analysis for Consumers Union (Adobe Acrobat format) which indicates that "the $400 billion over 10 years set aside for Medicare beneficiaries drug costs would cover just 22% of anticipated medication expenses during that period." See also the related CU press release.

 

  
  

Study Urges Screening of Newborns
AP story at PsycPORT - "Technology that allows the screening of newborns for several rare genetic diseases at once can help prevent mental retardation and other complications more effectively than conventional tests done after symptoms develop, researchers say. A study found that because the technology allows earlier diagnosis and prompt treatment, retardation among infants was much less common and hospitalization was less frequent. All states require testing of newborns for phenylketonuria and hypothyroidism, which can cause retardation if untreated, but not all use the newer method. States differ on the other diseases for which testing is required. The new technology, called tandem mass spectrometry, uses a single drop of blood to screen for at least 20 diseases and is either in use or under consideration in about 25 states.."  
  

Mental Health Services for the Rural Aged
Psychiatric Times article - "Given the expected astronomical rise in the number of elderly over the next 15 years and the increase in mental health services that will need to be provided, it is of utmost importance to start planning now. Rural areas in particular present difficult challenges in providing mental health services to elderly patients. What are these challenges and how can health care providers overcome them?"  
  

International Research Presented at WPA Conference
Psychiatric Times article - "A collection of research from the World Psychiatric Association's International Thematic Conference in Austria. Various symposia covering topics ranging from eating disorders to addiction treatments and depressive disorders were presented."  
  

Cognitive Behavior Therapy More Effective Than Nutritional Counseling in Anorexia
Medscape Medical News story - "Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is more effective than nutritional counseling in improving outcomes in the treatment of adult anorexia nervosa and preventing relapse, according to the results of a randomized trial published in the November issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry." "med"  
  

Current Issues in Addiction and Mental Health (Canada)
A September report available in the public policy papers section of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health web site - "The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) has prepared this report at a time when health care issues are prominent in public debate at the national, provincial and local levels. At the federal level, the Romanow Commission released its final report on the Future of Health Care in Canada a little less than a year ago. In the province of Ontario, the recommendations of nine regional Mental Health Implementation Task Forces are being considered by the provincial government as they determine the next phases of mental health care reform. This fall, Ontarians are being asked to elect provincial and municipal governments that will set critical health and social policy priorities in the province for the foreseeable future. This will be followed by a federal election that will do the same at the national level for the remainder of this decade and beyond..."  
  

Government Mapping Out a Strategy to Fight Autism
New York Times news service story reprinted at the Ocala Star Banner (Florida) - " Propelled by the skyrocketing number of diagnoses of the perplexing brain disorder autism in children, federal officials have for the first time mapped out a long-term, interagency plan to deal with the problem. The plan includes objectives like the development of teaching methods that will allow 90 percent of autistic children to speak; the identification of genetic and nongenetic causes of the condition; and adequate services for all afflicted children in the next 7 to 10 years. The plan, which is to be unveiled at a major autism conference in Washington that begins today, signals the start of the push-pull process over financing. Such a plan was required by the Congressional appropriations committee that controls the budget for scientific and medical research and education programs of all kinds...."  
  

Fresh blow to mental health bill (UK)
BBC story - " In an unusual alliance, NHS management and psychiatrists have combined to attack proposals to reform mental health legislation. In a report, the NHS Confederation and the Royal College of Psychiatrists suggested the plans are unworkable and could trigger a workforce crisis. The report adds to growing criticism of the draft Bill, published last year. ..."