Tuesday, May 13, 2003

The Mental Health Care Parity Debate Continues
Article in the May Psychiatric Times - "Proponents of mental health care parity have reintroduced the legislation that died in the U.S. House of Representatives last year. While the idea of parity has broad bipartisan support, the debate continues over how much it will cost, who will foot the bill, and how it should best be administered. In a time of war and tight budgets, will the bill get the attention it deserves?"  
  

Compensation Levels Hold Steady, but Future Uncertain
Article in the May Psychiatric Times - "What does the state of psychiatry look like? Surveys have been conducted and data have been broken down into compensation levels, specialties, service costs and insurance coverage. Finally enough data exist to give an overall view of where most psychiatrists stand today in the medical workforce."  
  

Medicaid: Fiscal Challenges to Coverage
This brief Kaiser Family Foundation policy analysis (in Adobe Acrobat format) outlines key points about the current state fiscal crisis and its impact on Medicaid's health coverage role.  
  

State Impact Analysis Reports: Effects of the 2004 Congressional Budget Resolution
From the Institute for America's Future web site - "The Federal government budget resolution for fiscal year 2004, which passed Congress on April 11, 2003 by a single vote on a near party-line margin, would cut hundreds of millions of dollars in vital federal funds over the next 10 years. These budget cuts are driven by massive new tax breaks advanced by the Bush administration and Republican Congressional leaders, which will primarily benefit our nation’s wealthiest citizens..." The page includes a link to an index of related press stories and state-by-state reports on the impact of federal budget cuts.  
  

Preventive mental health services save lives and funds (Florida)
Guest column in the Herald Tribune by Jeffrey C. Anglin, a psychotherapist and executive director of the Family Emergency Treatment Center on mental health issues and the Florida legislature - "We all know prevention is a good idea, for our cars and our bodies and our state. So why are we so reluctant to heed this simple maxim?"  
  

Louisiana lawmakers look at mental health cuts proposed for 2004
AP story at NewsFlash - "A proposal to shut down most of the services offered by the Southeast Louisiana Hospital in Mandeville would push out dozens of residents and force 450 people out of jobs. But lawmakers said Monday it's unclear if the proposal for the 2003-04 budget year would save money or if the residents and others who depend on the services would have anywhere to go."  
  

Mental Health: Parity law would improve disgraceful level of care (Michigan)
Editorial in the Detroit Free Press - "State lawmakers have repeatedly and disgracefully shied away from insisting that the level of medical care for mental illnesses be held to the same standard as treatment for physical diseases and injuries. The Legislature has a chance to redeem itself this year, with state Sen. Beverly Hammerstrom, R-Temperance, carefully building the case."