Friday, January 07, 2005

State May Pay Larger Share of Medicaid (New York)   New York Times story - "Gov. George E. Pataki's top budget advisers are considering a plan that would require the state to pick up a larger share of the skyrocketing Medicaid costs now being paid by localities, according to administration officials. Medicaid, a $42 billion-a-year health insurance program for the state's three million low-income and poor residents, is the fastest growing part of the state's $100 billion annual budget, state officials say. Its costs are shared by state and local governments in New York, as well as by the federal government. But in recent years, local government officials have complained that the program's soaring costs have placed a strain on county budgets and services across the state and have been a prime cause of local property tax increases..." [Viewing New York Times resources requires registration, which is free].  
  

MCO Toll on Psychotherapy Difficult to Undo Psychiatric News story - "Managed care organizations' disenchantment with psychotherapy won't be reversed until practitioners have the data to persuade payers of its value to patients. Evidence-based data, studies of medical-cost offset, and advocacy will be needed to reverse the managed care industry's skeptical view of dynamic psychotherapy, according to Paul Appelbaum, M.D. ..."