Tuesday, December 09, 2003

News on Medicaid and State Budgets – September and October 2003
Adobe Acrobat update from the Kaiser Family Foundation that "summarizes recent press reports published during the months of September and October 2003 as well as information reported by the National Conference of State Legislature’s health policy tracking service during those two months. It highlights press reports of recent changes that governors and state legislatures are making or plan to make to their Medicaid programs. The information in this news update has not been verified by the states, and in some cases the actions reported are not final."  
  

HIPAA Requirements About Protected Health Information Provided by ERS to Law Enforcement Agencies
An "Ask the Experts about HIPAA Compliance" feature from Medscape Money & Medicine that answers the question "What are the rules regarding the type of information that can be released by an emergency department/hospital to the various law enforcement agencies in their investigations of either an alleged criminal or a victim of a crime? " [Viewing Medscape resources requires registration, which is free].  
  

Shortage of bilingual clinicians strains mental health services
Austin American Statesman story reprinted at the NAMI web site - " All across the country, mental health professionals are struggling to meet the need of a growing Spanish-speaking population -- and Austin is no different. Some local therapists use live or telephone-based interpreters. Others use children as a go-between for parents and therapists. In some cases, Spanish speakers don't get help at all, said Abraham Minjarez, acting director for adult mental health for the Austin Travis County Mental Health Mental Retardation Center...."  
  

Attorney general closes investigation of mental health agency (Georgia)
AP story at AccessNorthGa.com - "The Georgia attorney generals office has halted an investigation of a LaGrange mental health agency accused of misusing funds, saying state officials waited too long to initiate an audit of the agency. A memo to Attorney General Thurbert Baker last week, which officially closed the case against Pathways Center for Behavioral and Developmental Growth, said the state Department of Human Resources failed to order an audit before the statute of limitations expired."  
  

Mental health, drug-abuse boards may unite (Ohio)
Toledo Blade story - "Lucas County commissioners are expected to decide today whether to hold a hearing on combining the county’s substance abuse and mental health boards. The merger discussion was prompted by a bill the Ohio General Assembly passed last year allowing seven Ohio counties with separate boards for drug addiction and mental health, including Lucas County, to merge. County commissioners must approve the mergers by Dec. 31. The county Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services board opposes the move. The Lucas County Mental Health Board hasn’t taken a position. ..."