Thursday, December 11, 2003
Higher Drug Copayments May Halt Use by Some PatientsMedscape Medical News story - "To control the costs of employee drug benefit programs, many large employers have adopted three-tier formularies in recent years. Under this approach, enrollees typically select from a range of copayments for drugs, with the lowest fee for a generic drug (tier 1), the next highest for a brand-name drug preferred by the employer (tier 2), and the highest copayment for a brand-name drug not on the preferred list (tier 3). While these "incentive-based" formularies slow the rate of drug spending for employers, they also, depending on their design, lead some employees to discontinue purchasing drugs to manage chronic illnesses, according to a study in the Dec. 4 issue of the
New England Journal of Medicine." "med" See also the
NEJM abstract of the article.
Psychologists persevere in the statesArticle in the latest
APA Monitor - "With bleak budget situations in the states, psychologists faced uphill advocacy battles this year. But in many states--even those in economic hard times--advocates trudged on to legislative victories. 'This was a very tough year financially,' says Michael Sullivan, PhD, assistant executive director for state advocacy in APA's Practice Directorate. 'State legislatures didn't have money to spend. So it's been a mixed picture for psychology.' Psychology leaders say a great deal of credit for the legislative victories goes to state psychological associations."
Measuring cognitive declineArticle in the latest
APA Monitor - "Many of the tests used in research to demonstrate age-related decline in executive functioning--processes thought to control other cognitive operations--may not go far enough in differentiating these control functions from other processes, say psychologist Timothy Salthouse, PhD, and colleagues at the University of Virginia, in a study published in this month's Journal of Experimental Psychology: General (Vol. 132, No. 4)."
Medical privacy lands in courtPhiladelphia Inquirer story on a legal challenge to HIPAA focusing on its privacy stipulations - "The privacy rule created by U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy G. Thompson gives patients power to approve release of medical information to employers and life insurers. But patients have no say about how the information is used or shared by health plans, billing companies, and some groups doing business with medical providers, such as consultants, lawyers or drug companies. That's why patients are now asked to sign the HIPAA consent forms. While patients may refuse to sign the HIPAA form, their likely option is finding another doctor. Since the rule took effect, privacy advocates say, most doctors or medical providers refuse to assume civil and criminal liability for wrongly disclosed patient information and require patients to sign."
New Studies Claim Ritalin Used For ADHD Causes Permanent Brain Alterations Story at
SciScoop on three new studies conducted in animals, published in the December issue of the journal
Biological Psychiatry which "provide evidence that misuse of the stimulant methylphenidate (Ritalin) may have long-term effects on the brain and behavior. While methylphenidate and other stimulant medications are the recommended treatments for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), based on the more than 150 controlled studies demonstrating their safety and efficacy when used as prescribed, these three studies showed changes in the brains of young (adolescent or pre-adolescent) animals that persisted into adulthood."
Mental wards fight drug problemBBC story - "Hospitals for the mentally ill could face legal action from patients because of the growing use of illegal drugs on the wards. Mental health groups are calling for government guidelines to help staff tackle the problem. They fear hospitals could be sued by patients who accuse them of failing in their 'duty of care'. "
