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..."  
  

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).
  
  

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.