Friday, September 26, 2003

Federal Funding of Mental Health Courts in Jeopardy
A NAMI alert, urging concerned advocates to contact legislators - " Congress first authorized the federal Mental Health Courts program as part of legislation passed in 2000 (P.L. 106-515). This bipartisan legislation was sponsored by Senator Mike DeWine (R-OH) and Representative Ted Strickland (D-OH). The establishment of mental health courts is rapidly emerging as one of the most successful strategies to address the stark reality that jails and prisons have become the nation's depository for people with severe mental illnesses. Currently, there are nearly 100 Mental Health Courts in existence around the country. ... The elimination of federal support for these innovative programs in FY 2004 would be a serious mistake. Yet, this may well occur. The House of Representatives allocated no money for these courts in its FY 2004 Appropriations bill. Moreover, the Senate Commerce, Justice, State and the Judiciary Appropriations Subcommittee, which has responsibility for funding this program, similarly appropriated no money for these courts."  
  

Drug implant offers hope, spurs worry
Boston Globe story - "Researchers said yesterday that they are prepared to seek FDA approval of a surgically implanted tablet that could deliver daily doses of psychiatric medication for as long as a year. The implants might revolutionize treatment of chronic mental illnesses like schizophrenia, which now require patients to take daily cocktails of powerful medications. For some, the implant of haloperidol, a powerful antipsychotic drug, promises to stop the destructive spirals of psychosis that occur when patients stop taking medication because of side effects, logistical barriers, or lapses in memory. But patients' rights advocates say that implants of psychiatric medication would give the state coercive power unmatched since the age of the lobotomy. ...  Audience members raised concerns yesterday about possible widespread use of implants, most pointedly, the danger that they would be used in the criminal justice system as an alternative to imprisonment. Others worried that the managed-care industry would promote implants because they would offer the cost savings of reduced psychiatric visits."  
  

Medicaid will start drug list (Alabama)
Birmingham News story - "... The Alabama Medicaid Agency, beginning in November, plans to phase in a preferred drug list restricting the medications covered by the plan for low-income people. Medicaid provides a prescription drug benefit for about 450,000 Alabamians. The drug plan would eliminate some brand names, such as Prozac, from coverage in favor of generic medications and other brands. A patient could get a prescription for a drug not on the preferred list if his or her doctor was granted an exception by the state agency. The move would save $50 million a year, $13 million in state money and the rest in federal matching dollars, Medicaid officials said. Representatives of mental health, sickle cell and AIDS groups said during a news conference Thursday that the plan will force people off medications that have worked for them and limit their medication options. "  
  

Johanns says he will improve state approach to mental health (Nebraska)
Story in the Grand Island Independent - "Gov. Mike Johanns took an opportunity to confess a shortcoming of the state he governs Thursday during an address before the 10th annual Mental Health Consumer Conference gathered in Aurora. 'I want to tell you in the past 50 years, our state hasn't been a very good partner to you,' Johanns said. 'I have three and a half years left as your governor, and I want to change that.' The conference, which brings together those who are or have received treatment for mental illness, applauded Johanns numerous times during his speech. His plan to change the current direction of mental health care in Nebraska drew applause as well."  
  

State scrutinizes mental health board's books (Ohio)
Morning Journal story - "State officials have performed a special audit of the Mental Health & Recovery Board of Erie & Ottawa Counties, but Ohio state Auditor Betty Montgomery's office has not released details on the audit, officials said yesterday. "