Wednesday, August 11, 2004

Children's issues may slow TennCare cuts (Tennessee)
Story in The Tennessean - " Gov. Phil Bredesen intends to make public in the next 10 days details of his cost-saving changes to TennCare, but a January implementation date could get delayed. Already, the state is about two months off schedule in filing the plan with the federal government. It is now likely to happen in mid-September, and legal developments this week could cause further delay. ... On Monday, U.S. District Judge John Nixon surprised the state and the Justice Center when he said he would like to see the case move forward, with a 'special master' writing a compromise plan. Richard Carter was appointed special master three years ago. The special master's plan could, among other things, make sure that children on TennCare with mental health problems have immediate and accessible treatment, one of the ongoing shortcomings of TennCare, Johnson said."  
  

State faulted on care for children (Virginia)
Richmond Times-Dispatch story - "Virginia does a poor job of caring for seriously disturbed children and teenagers, especially those who end up in the state's juvenile courts and detention centers, a report says. A state mental-health work group found that Virginia spends too little on helping youths with mental illness or serious emotional problems - an estimated 62,000 children and teenagers. The group said there is little help for those who are struggling with more than one problem - a combination of mental illness and substance abuse or retardation and behavior disorders, for instance."