Thursday, October 16, 2003

Medicaid shortfall increases fourfold (Maine)
Story in the Portland Press Herald - "A $37 million shortfall in the state's Medicaid program that came to light last month has now grown to about $150 million, thanks to higher-than-expected costs in the first quarter of the fiscal year that began July 1. ... The $112 million problem is only the latest in a string of financial headaches that have plagued the DHS this year, prompting calls from some lawmakers for new management at that agency, which is now being run by an acting commissioner. Baldacci has resisted making such changes as he pursues his plan to merge DHS and the state mental-health agency and appoint a new commissioner to run the combined agency."  
  

Lawmakers want to broaden definition of affordable housing (Massachusetts)
Sentinel & Enterprise story - "A legislative committee is recommending changes to the state's controversial affordable housing law that officials say will expand the definition of affordable housing without damaging the intent of the law. However, it's unclear whether a majority of the state's lawmakers will support the plan. Past attempts to change the so-called 40B law have failed while pitting suburban lawmakers against urban legislators." In the proposed bill, communities would be allowed to count affordable housing created under the community preservation act and Department of Mental Retardation or Department of Mental Health group homes.  
  

FAHC eyes mental health parity (Vermont)
Brattleboro Reformer story - "Vermont's largest hospital has decided to begin offering its employees mental health coverage equal with its insurance plan for physical problems. The move comes a month after Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington drew criticism from mental health advocates for failing to offer coverage for psychiatric and substance abuse treatments as comprehensive as that offered for other types of medical care."  
  

Mental health center plan could save $1 million (Wisconsin)
Green Bay Press-Gazette story - "Two major changes for the Brown County Mental Health Center are being proposed in the budget that County Executive Carol Kelso unveiled Wednesday. She proposes to increase the daily rate for patients in the adult psychiatric unit and also to move the adolescent psychiatric unit closer to the adult unit. Combined, the moves would result in $1 million in savings, she said."