Tuesday, October 29, 2002

Mental health chief testifies (Maine)
Bangor Daily News story on testimony by the state commissioner of the Department of Behavioral and Developmental Services in "a closely watched trial to determine the future of a 1990 consent decree that ordered the state to make widespread changes in the mental health care system." See the related item posted here yesterday.  
  

More say mental care was denied (Massachusetts)
Boston Globe story - "Complaints by Massachusetts consumers who say they were denied mental-health treatment have more than tripled this year, with most of the appeals filed against Magellan Health Services, a Maryland company that oversees mental health care for 1.1 million residents."  
  

State agency 'questionable' billing practice criticized (New Hampshire) Story in the Manchester Union Leader on a new state report indicating that "the state mental health division and its affiliated community agencies for eight years have employed a “questionable” billing arrangement involving millions of dollars in federal Medicaid funds." Issues have arisen because the state mental health division encouraged community mental health agencies to provide services in community settings rather than their offices, resulting in the "accumulation of 'holdback accounts' containing Medicaid money not included in the state’s budget and kept by the 10 community agencies."  
  

Mental health agency plans 2 homes (Michigan)
Lansing State Journal story on a $2 million project by Clinton-Eaton-Ingham Community Mental Health to open two residential homes here next month - "a move expected to save $459,620 a year."  
  

Help available for survivors (Missouri)
Story in The Standard Democrat on the Southeast Missouri Suicide Prevention Program, which is "prompted by a need in the area and increased suicides in the past 18 months" and is made possible through a Department of Mental Health grant obtained by the Foundation of the Dexter Community Regional Healthcare Facility.  
  

Grant to give mentally ill foster care (Texas)
El Paso Times story - "El Paso County has won two grants totaling $10.5 million, the largest of which -- $9.3 million -- will help the county establish a network of foster-care group homes to house children with mental-health problems."