News: Medicaid policies limit clinically indicated drugs
The irony of trying to save Medicaid money might well result in more expensive human, medical and social costs, conclude the authors of a study of Medicaid management of medication. Medicaid drug policies, it seems, constrain access to preferred psychiatric drugs and thereby increase the likelihood of emergency room use, hospitalization or homelessness, say the authors of a new study in the May issue of Psychiatric Services. The authors base their conclusions, that drug management is based "based primarily on...
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News: The Soloist: music, mental illness and a respectful relationship
The Soloist, a film starring Hollywood notables Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey, Jr., opens this week based on a book (same title). It portrays the relationship between a gifted musician, Nathaniel Ayers, living on Skid Row after he career was cut short by schizophrenia, and an LA Times columnist, Steve Lopez, who is moved by his music. Within hours of its delayed release (originally slated for Nov.), Entertainment Weekly was predicting a box-office hit, a contender for number one take...
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News: Hospital corporation settles dumping charges
People with untreated mental illness are at risk for homelessness without hospitals dumping them onto the streets. A year-long investigation into College Hospital Costa Mesa, accused of driving discharged patients to Skid Row, a downtown neighborhood with homeless squatters in Los Angeles, resulted in a $1.6 million settlement with the owners. The hospital is one of the properties privately held by College Hospital Enterprises, a company operating two psychiatric hospitals, three skilled nursing facilities, five partial-hospital programs, and two...
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Commentary: Making a difference: "The Soloist" and Steve Lopez

News: Comfort Ye: Opera stars help homeless
For the 14th year, soprano great Lauren Flanigan organized opera stars to perform for an evening of Comfort Ye, a unique benefit for the homeless in New York City. This year 25 people, including pianist Larry Woodward, John Musto, Stephen Gaertner, and Michael Chioldi, were part of the line-up for this heralded seasonal event at Symphony Space. Flanigan, who regularly performs in the New York City Opera, personally oversees the event which also enlists the local community. Volunteers help...
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News: States in trouble
South Carolina announced cuts of at least 12 percent to its mental health budget. This will come as a result of closing programs, staff cuts, a freeze on hiring, and eliminaitng 75 in-patient beds. The projected $26 million reduction might increase by another $7.8 million. Advocates worry that the impact of reducing services will be transferred to emergency rooms, jails and homeless shelters. Elsewhere: A spike in anxiety, depression and suicide risks in Denver. In New York, reports the Poughkeepsie...
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News: Housing crisis for homeless, vets
iStock photo Cities are struggling to provide housing for their homeless men and women, and in Seattle a controversy over whether to rebuild or repair is delaying this longer. The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports that 200 people were shut out of boarding houses they had lived in for up to 30 years, waiting lists are 800 names deep, and 100 people are backed up in the hospital while waiting for a place in the community. In North Carolina, there is a...
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News: Milwaukee addresses housing, services
Milwaukee’s planning commission gave a green light to building 48 supervised apartments for people with mental illness on controversial riverfront property. Mental health services are also being debated in a local election for county executive. Last year, following a yearlong series in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel,"Abandoning our Mentally Ill," Gov. Jim Doyle earmarked $11 million for housing. The 2006 series exposed vermin-infested, substandard living conditions and the death of one man that went undetected for four days....
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News: $1.5 billion for housing homeless
HUD announced it will grant $1.5 billion to nearly 6,000 housing and service programs working with people who are homeless. Nearly one-quarter of all homeless persons are veterans, and roughly 45 percent are mentally ill, according to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans. In an unrelated story, NOW repeated a broadcast about about Pathways to Housing which helps find housing and services for people who are homeless, mentally ill, and often substance abusers. Not only is their program comprehensive and...
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News: Activisits sue Schwarzenegger
Challenging a line-item veto for homeless services, a group of advocacy organizations filed suit against California's governor. Problems, they say, is that Schwarzenegger broke the law, and the promise of Prop 63, to serve mentally ill homeless recovery in the community....
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News: Home, not hospitalized, in Australian project
A demonstration project in Australia, working with 24 mentally ill people in their homes, has reduced hospitalization from 356 to 28 days in one year, according to a report from Australian Broadcasting System. A spokesperson for the charity Mission Australia said, "the program is based around spending time with people to make sure they keep their links with their community." It is a promising model to prevent homelessness and help people avoid committing petty lawbreaking offenses. About 10 percent of...
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News: Calif. cuts budget for mentally ill homeless
Following through on a threat to cut $55 million for a program serving California's homeless mentally ill, Gov. Arnold Schwarznegger said cities and counties could step in to fill the gap. Mental health advocates have complained that the same line-item decisions that cut the program known as Integrated Services from a $145.5 billion budget supported $45 million in tax advantages for the owners of yachts and planes. Since 1999, the program has been credited with reduced costs for hospitalization, incarceration,...
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News: Calif. gov proposes cuts for homeless mentally ill
The Los Angeles Times urges California's governor Arnold Schwarznegger to retract his controversial plan to cut $55 million from the state's successful program for homeless mentally ill people. He points to Prop 63, which voters approved to finance county programs for mental health care, to pick up the program locally. While Prop 63 promises to generate billions, it cannot be used for existing programs....
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News: Georgia dissed discharge planning
Atlanta Journal-Constitution, June 24, 2007 Reports of overcrowding and failed discharge planning are the subject of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's sixth story in series investigating Georgia's mental health system. The U.S. Department of Justice is currently investigating why more than 5,000 patients were discharged to bus stations, homeless shelters, or motels, only to return 40 or more times. Between 2002-2006, 115 people died in a state hospitals, there were 190 cases of physical and sexual abuse, and another 10 people died...
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