Tuesday, August 24, 2004

A change in care: Veterans upset about mental health services (Montana)
Bozeman Daily Chronicle story - "As of Sept. 1, because of a contract change, ...local veterans will no longer get their weekly counseling sessions at Bozeman Counseling and Consulting paid for through the U.S. Department of Veteran's Affairs. The veterans, many of whom suffer from post traumatic stress disorder, will have to switch to new counselors even though they have built relationships with their current counselors..."  
  

Mental-health officials unveil new blueprint (Maine)
Maine Today story - "Mental-health officials are proposing a two-track approach to realign treatment programs for mentally ill Mainers. The new plan adds specific standards for a range of services the department must meet to satisfy a court order, and proposes a totally new, managed-care style alternative..."  
  

Mental health failures (Indiana)
Indianapolis Star editorial - "Over the past several years, as the economics of health care have forced cutbacks in government programs, increased the numbers of uninsured and depressed job creation, options for those who need mental health care have even more drastically diminished. Local hospitals have "downsized" or eliminated psychiatric services and clinics report waiting lists of several months. Meanwhile, health insurance -- even for those fortunate enough to have it -- rarely provides more than minimal mental health coverage. The problem is that whatever money we may be saving by failing to offer adequate mental health treatment is costing us a hundredfold elsewhere..."