Monday, April 14, 2003

Virginia managed-care suit finally heads to trial
Article in the most recent APA Monitor - "The case the Virginia Academy of Clinical Psychologists (VACP) filed against Care First (formerly Blue Cross/Blue Shield of the National Capital Area) and its mental health subcontractor (formerly Value Options) to hold the companies accountable for essentially putting profits ahead of patients--by not providing the services it promised to consumers or providers--is scheduled for trial on April 7. After many delays, several judges and a couple of pretrial hearings, the moment this group of Virginia psychologists and consumers has been waiting for is here." See also the long road to trial, which provides a case chronology.  
  

$1 co-pay for prescriptions is problem for mentally ill (Connecticut)
Story in the Greenwich Time - "Starting tomorrow, Connecticut's Medicaid recipients will have to pay a co-pay of $1 for each prescription drug they receive. The change is expected to save the state $11.1 million next fiscal year. For people with mental illness, who can be prescribed a dozen different medications every month, the co-pay is a financial hardship..."