Friday, November 12, 2004

Medicaid and Women: What's at Stake
New resources from the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured - "Despite its critical importance as a health care safety net for nearly one in ten women, Medicaid is not typically viewed as a women's health program. This briefing addresses how the program works for women; examines its role for women across the different stages of their lives; provides data on women's coverage; highlights recent state initiatives of importance to women, and discusses what women have at stake in federal and state efforts to restructure the Medicaid program." The link above leads to a page indexing facts sheets on Women's Health Insurance Coverage and Health Insurance Coverage of Women Ages 18 to 64, by State, 2002-2003, as well as an issue briefing on Medicaid and women.  
  

Tennessee to end expanded Medicaid coverage
Star-Ledger story - "The governor announced plans yesterday to dissolve Tennessee's expanded Medicaid system and drop 430,000 poor and disabled people from the rolls of the health care program that has been devouring a large chunk of the state budget. Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen said Tennessee will instead return to a cheaper, more basic Medicaid program. The move followed months of legal wrangling over the TennCare program, whose $7.8billion price tag was projected to mushroom in coming years..."  
  

When the mentally ill refuse help (Pennsylvania)
Philadelphia Inquirer story reprinted at PsycPORT on involuntary treatment - "In the last five years, 15 states, including New York, California and Florida, have made involuntary commitment - the forcing of a mentally ill person into treatment - easier, according to the Treatment Advocacy Center, which promotes such changes. Prompted by complaints from constituents such as Hill, lawmakers in Pennsylvania and New Jersey are also proposing changes. As is the case in about half the states, Pennsylvania and New Jersey permit forced treatment only when psychiatric patients are in imminent danger of hurting themselves or others. Passed in the 1970s, Pennsylvania's Mental Health Procedures Act has frustrated parents, psychiatrists, and others who deal with the mentally ill. But many recognize that making it easier to force someone into treatment conflicts with the deeply held American belief in individual freedom..."  
  

Drug-Free Communities Support Program
A new web site from SAMHSA - "The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) directs the Drug-Free Communities Support Program in partnership with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. This anti-drug program provides grants of up to $100,000 to community coalitions that mobilize their communities to prevent youth alcohol, tobacco, illicit drug, and inhalant abuse. ... The Office of Drug Control Policy has transferred DFC grant administration to the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, effective Oct. 1. SAMHSA's Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) will distribute program, evaluation, and technical assistance services to the 700+ Drug Free Community Grantees."