Monday, October 27, 2003

Insured Americans Drive Surge in Emergency Department Visits
An Issue Brief from the Center for Studying Health System Change - "isits to hospital emergency departments (EDs) have increased greatly in recent years, contributing to crowded conditions and ambulance diversions. Contrary to the popular belief that uninsured people are the major cause of increased emergency department use, insured Americans accounted for most of the 16 percent increase in visits between 1996-97 and 2000-01, according to a study by the Center for Studying Health System Change (HSC). This Issue Brief examines trends in emergency department and other ambulatory care use, focusing on differences among insurance groups. Although insured people accounted for most of the increase in emergency department visits, uninsured Americans increasingly rely on emergency departments because of decreased access to other sources of primary medical care. Emergency department waiting times also have increased substantially, which may lower both insured and uninsured patients’ perceptions of the quality of their care." See also the related press release.  
  

City unifies agencies for mental health (Pennsylvania)
Philadelphia Enquirer story - " The years-long drive to create a unified city system for delivering mental-health and substance-abuse treatment culminated yesterday as Mayor Street signed an order establishing the Office of Behavioral Health and Mental Retardation Services, with a budget larger than that of any other city department. The biggest change for the more than 100,000 men, women and children who receive treatment is 'they won't be referred from agency to agency to get different services,' said Estelle Richman, Pennsylvania Secretary of Public Welfare, who pushed for the consolidation when she was city health commissioner and who has supported it as a member of Gov. Rendell's cabinet."  
  

State to develop mental health crisis plan (Indiana)
Story in the Indianapolis Star - "Indiana officials announced Thursday they have launched an effort to create a statewide plan that ultimately will help people cope in times of crises. The plan will be based on a recent assessment by the state and Brian W. Flynn, a former assistant surgeon general of the United States and an expert in the effects of disasters on mental health. The assessment of Indiana's 30 community mental health centers was the first of its kind in the nation. It found that 22 centers felt they needed technical assistance to develop an adequate disaster response. The survey also revealed that 67 percent of the centers did not have a clear idea of how to go about meeting needs in emergencies, while 76 percent did not understand the roles of other agencies."