Monday, April 11, 2005

Medicaid Accounting Tactic Is Criticized by Lawmakers Washington Post story - "This year, as they have done for many years past, California officials will use an accounting strategy that will yield nearly $2 billion more in federal Medicaid payments than the state might otherwise be entitled to. ... States have used this bit of creative accounting for more than a decade, with the knowledge and approval of the federal government. But this year, such tactics are at the heart of the biggest budget battle in Washington, one that has pitted the Bush administration against the nation's governors and the Senate against the House. The White House and its allies in Congress say the federal government could save as much as $20 billion over the next five years by clamping down on what they see as fraudulent or abusive budget gimmickry. They began pressing their case this week when the House and Senate budget chairmen met to work out a compromise budget resolution that singles out Medicaid for the largest reductions..." [Viewing Washington Post stories requires registration, which is free.]  
  

Live Webcast to Examine Mental Health Care System for Children Ascribe Newswire press release - " 'Children's Mental Health: Navigating the System,' the final event in the 2004-2005 Conversations at The Carter Center series, will be webcast live Thursday, April 14, 2005, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on http://www.cartercenter.org/. Panelists include mental health legislative activist Tom O'Clair and award-winning journalist Paul Raeburn -- men whose lives have been impacted by the realities of obtaining adequate mental health care for their own children. Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, a longtime advocate of mental health care for children and co-founder of The Carter Center, will make opening remarks. Dr. Thomas Bornemann, director of the Carter Center's Mental Health Program, will lead the discussion about the well-being of children in light of recommendations from the President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health. Panelists will also provide insight into systems of care that emphasize treatment of and recovery from mental illnesses..."