News: Repealing Health Reform: For Heritage Action, It Would Be A 'Grand Slam'
Repeal of the health reform law is gaining traction among Republican lawmakers who have gathered 170 signatures. Leading the campaign is the Heritage Foundation, arguing that the majority of Americans have rejected health during the debate, and more so since it was signed, and is willing to wait until Republicans can effect a reversal. Kaiser Health News interviewed Michael Needham, CEO of Heritage Action for America.
Full Story | Topics: Congress, health reform, insurannce, politics | Comments (0)

News: Senate Gives Final Passage To State Aid Bill, House Summoned For Tuesday Vote
Senators voted Thursday to give $26 billion in aid to states and schools, $16 billion of which will be directed to Medicaid programs around the nation as the House prepares to return during its recess to cast votes on the legislation. Read the round-up of stories originally published in Kaiser Health News . . .
Full Story | Topics: FMAP, health reform, Medicaid, poverty | Comments (0)

News: New Rules Guarantee Patients' Right To Appeal Insurance Claim Denials
Insurance for mental health and substance use disorders should be protected by new laws establishing parity with other medical conditions. When consumers challenged termination of services, there were few opportunities to appeal. New rules from the Obama administration have now established regulations for third-party reviews of denials of claims.
Full Story | Topics: health reform, insurance | Comments (0)

News: Despite Law, Mental Health Coverage Lacking In Many Insurance Plans
Despite last year's passage of the most comprehensive parity insurance law providing coverage for mental illnesses and substance use disorders, waivers still exclude people and many in the high-risk category will have to wait until 2014. KaiserHealthNews spoke to NAMI's Andrew Sperling to learn more about the application of this law to 140 million people affected by it. . .
Full Story | Topics: health reform, insurance, NAMI, parity | Comments (0)

Consider This: Applauding the Berwick appointment
. . .it's about time
Full Story | Topics: Berwick, CMS, health reform, Medicaid, Medicare | Comments (0)

News: Push back attempts to delay parity
The Hill: "Health plans that say mental illnesses can't be treated like physical ailments are relying on an 'outdated argument' without merit that does not reflect 'three decades of scientific research,' 52 House members wrote in a recent letter to regulators. . .
Full Story | Topics: health reform, insurance, parity | Comments (0)

News: White House releases Patient's Bill of Rights
President Obama released a set of guarantees in the form of a patient's bill of rights following a meeting with insurance executives apropos new health reform laws. To read the entire document released by the White House, continue. . .
Full Story | Topics: health reform, insurance, patient rights | Comments (0)

News: Health reform bills differ in closing gaps
If, as the saying goes, politics makes strange bedfellows, crafting health reform has produced some of the more unlikely. LGBT groups, faith-based groups, insurance companies, and the Black Caucus Health Brain Trust are among the diverse interests agreeing on one thing: It's time to end disparities . . .
Full Story | Topics: health reform, politics | Comments (0)

News: Historic House health reform bill squeeks by

News: Mental health in health reform
Advocacy organizations are getting behind the House bill for health reform (HR 3962) citing benefits to those with a mental illness or addictive disorder. Organizations such as AARP and the American Medical Association, announced . . .
Full Story | Topics: addiction, Congress, health reform, mental illness, politics | Comments (0)

News: Mental health parity regs delayed
The three departments charged with writing regulations providing guidance for the implementation of Wellstone-Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act missed the Oct. 3 deadline. . .
Full Story | Topics: health reform, insurance, parity | Comments (0)

News: British fight back over NHS

News: Protesters disrupt town hall meetings

News: Mental health undervalued, says Obama

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...
Full Story | Topics: emergency room, health reform, homeless, hospitals, Medicaid, medication | Comments (0)

News: Obama budget blueprint
As he promised on the campaign trail, again on Tuesday night with a joint appearance before Congress, Pres. Obama's budget contains a blueprint for health reform. Anticipated savings will come from trimming excessive payments for programs such as Medicare Advantage and negotiating with drug companies for Medicaid, as well as providing coverage for the 60 million Americans who go without insurance during any 12-month period. Obama's proposal promises to "fundamentally reform our health care system." And he highlighted prevention for...
Full Story | Topics: health reform, politics | Comments (0)

Consider This: Rehearsal for health reform
. . .the stimulus package
Full Story | Topics: Congress, health reform, politics | Comments (0)

News: England's new law on forced treatments
iStock PhotoLaws compelling outpatient treatment took effect in England earlier in the week, and the controversy mirrors debates in the US. Proponents argue mandatory treatment reduces hospitalization and promotes public safety while critics oppose coercion and point to considerable side effects. Results inconclusive In the end, reports the Guardian, analysis of 28 studies led experts to conclude, "There is very little evidence to suggest that CTOs [community treatment orders] are associated with any positive outcomes and there is justification for...
Full Story | Topics: civil commitment, health reform, hospitals, human rights, medication | Comments (0)

News: Slowdown accelerates need for reform
Sen. Max Baucus The Kaiser Family Health Blog reports that Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus (D-Mont.) does not want to slow health reform: While some suggest that the current economic situation might thwart efforts to overhaul America's health care system, I believe the state of the U.S. economy makes the need for health care reform even more urgent....
Full Story | Topics: economy, health reform | Comments (0)