Tuesday, May 27, 2003

Our wise investment in Medicaid pays off
Opinion piece by Arnold Robbins in the Boston Globe - "Thanks to a mental health revolution, powerful new medications (in conjunction with psychosocial treatments) now allow people with even serious disorders to maintain productive lives and to meaningfully contribute to society, living successfully in their communities, holding jobs, and raising families. The drugs are neither perfect nor cheap, but their strain on state Medicaid budgets is frequently exaggerated, generally amounting to no more than 4 percent of total Medicaid spending. Still, as state lawmakers weigh strategies to rein in Medicaid costs, they are tempted to try to achieve the appearance of short-term savings by restricting doctor and patient access to mental health medications."