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Information related to managed care, behavioral health,
Medicare, sustainability, and other administrative issues
National Conference of State Legislatures Releases New Report on Mental Health Services
A report released in June 2002 by the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) assesses state options for addressing the mental health needs of children. Between 5% and 7% of children use specialty mental health services every year. However, the majority of children who are likely to benefit from these services do not receive care. In addition to providing an assessment of options for state legislators interested in learning more about how to address the issue, this report includes some model approaches, such as linking mental health services with early childhood programs. For more information about this and other research projects, go to the Recent Research section http://www.futureofchildren.org/newsletter2856/newsletter.htm
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Report on Children’s Mental Health Usage
This brief, funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, reports on results from a recent large scale survey. The new research examines access to services as well as quality and outcomes for youth and focuses on service inequities among children of different races, ages, genders, socioeconomic backgrounds, and diagnoses. To view brief, go to http://www.ihhcpar.rutgers.edu/downloads/issuebrief.pdf.
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School-Based Mental Health Increases Students' Receiving Care
“Where mental health services were available on-site, students were substantially more likely to see a counselor in the previous year...” reports Eric Slade. The article states that “... school-based and community-based service sectors operate essentially as two parallel systems.” The author concludes: “... schools can have, and have had, a significant positive impact on the use of mental health counseling services by adolescents ...” To view this abstract, go to: http://kluwer.m0.net/m/s.asp?HB6683450862X1487770X120850Xwsaund1%40samhsa.gov
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Children Risk Loss of Health Coverage
Nearly 1 million of the 3.5 million children enrolled in a federal/state health insurance program known as "SCHIP" are at risk of losing coverage due to a $6 billion cut in federal funding, Families USA warned. A report released by the national consumer advocacy group traces the so-called "SCHIP funding dip" to a combination of federal funding issues and states' own budget crises. To view article, go to http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/441453?mpid=3705 (Medscape is a free service provided by WebMD; registration is required)
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School-Based Health Centers and Managed Care Arrangements: A Review of State Models and Implementation Issues
In a new report, the George Washington University Center for Health Services Research and
Policy, under a contract with the Department of Health and Human Services' Health
Resources and Services Administration, identifies methods by which states have included school-based health centers (SBHCs) in Medicaid managed care arrangements. This report provides a detailed description of SBHCs, their traditional funding streams and issues related to their inclusion in Medicaid managed care arrangements. In particular, the report details three Medicaid managed care reimbursement models for SBHCs. You can access the report through http://www.gwhealthpolicy.org – follow the link for publications, then Managed Care Contracting.
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One Department Serving Rural America: HHS Rural Task Force Report to the Secretary
This report describes the current health and social services challenges facing rural
America, outlines HHS components whose programs currently serve rural and frontier communities, discusses the barriers that Task Force members identified, shares the common themes from the 450 public comments and details a number of strategies for improving health care and human services in rural communities. The full report is available at ftp://ftp.hrsa.gov/ruralhealth/PublicReportJune2002.pdf.
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Family Strengths: Often Overlooked, But Real
Contrary to many portrayals, the majority of American parents and children report strong family ties and daily routines that encourage close parent-child relationships, according to this Child Trends Research Brief. To view, go to http://www.childtrends.org/PDF/FamilyStrengths.pdf.
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Department of Justice Awards More Than $14 Million and Increases its JUMP Programs From 47 To 66 Sites
Through the Juvenile Mentoring Program (JUMP), administered by the Office of Justice Programs' Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), more than 5,000 at-risk youth in 38 states and the District of Columbia will receive one-to-one mentoring aimed at keeping them in school and away from drugs and crime. The three-year grants range from $156,000 to $220,000 each. OJJDP selected the new sites through a competitive review process from a pool of 863 applicants. The mentoring sites will focus on three major goals: improved academic performance, reduced school dropout rates and prevention of delinquent behavior. All sites are required to coordinate their activities with local educational agencies. For more information about these awards, go to the press release http://ojjdp.ncjrs.org/about/press/ojp020918.html.
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Annual Household Survey Finds Millions of Americans in Denial about Drug Abuse
The 2001 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse provides a more accurate and comprehensive one-year snapshot of the problem of drug abuse in America than previously available. The survey indicated that the number of Americans who could benefit from drug treatment was significantly larger than previously understood. It also indicated that too many American drug users—more than 4.6 million—who meet the criteria for needing treatment do not recognize that they have a problem. For the first time, the survey also included questions about mental illness. An HHS fact sheet with more information is available at http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/ . Other background and resources are available at the Web sites for SAMHSA (http://www.samhsa.gov), CDC (http://www.cdc.gov), NIDA (http://www.nida.nih.gov) and NIAAA (www.niaaa.nih.gov).
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Most Healthcare Organizations to Seek HIPAA Compliance Extension
A new survey by Phoenix Health Systems and the Health Information and Management Systems Society has found that most of the responding healthcare organizations (84%) say they have applied or will apply for a one-year extension to comply with the upcoming October 2002 deadline for a key provision of the Health Insurance Portability and Affordability Act (HIPAA), and only 7% would make the original compliance date of Oct. 16, 2002. "HIPAA planning has been chasing a moving target," complained one health provider. "It is difficult to write policies and train staff when the regs and dates may or may not change." For the complete article, go to http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/441208?mpid=3761 (Medscape is a free service provided by WebMD; registration is required.)
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Data Trends
Tampa
Special issue alert: Leong, F. T. L.,(Guest Editor)(2001). Barriers to providing effective mental health services to racial and ethnic minorities in the United States. Mental Health Services Research, 3, 179-223.
This special issue provides a state-of-the-art review of the various barriers to providing effective mental health services to racial and ethnic minorities. The special issue consists of four articles covering the following racial and ethnic minority groups in the United States: African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans, and American Indians.
MHSR articles are available to subscribing individuals and institutions at Kluwer on-line: http://www.kluweronline.com/issn/1522-3434
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Journal article: Duncan, S. C., Duncan, T. E., & Strycker, L. A. (2001). Qualitative & quantitative shifts in adolescent problem behavior development: A cohort-sequential multivariate latent growth modeling approach. Journal of Psychopathology & Behavioral Assessment, 23, 43-50.
The aim of this study was to examine the nature of problem behavior development from late childhood through adolescence, to assess the quantitative development of problem behavior (alcohol use, marijuana use, deviance, academic failure) as well as potential qualitative shifts in problem behavior over time. Results showed significant growth in problem behavior from ages 11-18. Alcohol use and marijuana use contributed most, and academic failure contributed least to the problem behavior latent construct. Results [also revealed] that the contribution of all four behaviors to the overall problem behavior construct increased similarly as children aged" (p. 43). To view, go to: http://rtckids.fmhi.usf.edu/rtcpubs/datatrendshp.htm.
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Effectiveness of Mentoring Programs for Youth: A Meta-Analytic Review.
This special issue sheds light on both naturally occurring and volunteer programs. The authors provide considerable insight into the design and implementation of successful volunteer0based youth mentoring programs. To view, go to http://rtckids.fmhi.usf.edu/rtcpubs/datatrends/summary_64.pdf
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A school, family, and community collaborative program for children who have emotional disturbances. This article describes the development and evaluation of a school-based program for students with emotional disturbances served in a special education settings. To view, go to http://rtckids.fmhi.usf.edu/rtcpubs/datatrends/summary_65.pdf.
Portland
Adherence to System of Care Philosophy: Federally Funded & Matched Comparison Sites. The purpose of this study was to assess the degree to which federally funded system of care sites have actualized system of care philosophies and to compare adherence to system of care values between three federally funded sites and three matched comparison sites that had not received federal system of care funding. To view, go to http://www.rtc.pdx.edu/pgDataTrends.shtml.
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Using the Parents as Partners Principle with SED Children. Therapists are traditionally seen as the experts and parents are commonly viewed as recipients of treatment or held responsible for their child’s problems. According to the Parents as Partners Principle, parents are the authority on their child’s condition. This Data Trends will address the dimensions of the principle, potential barriers to the principle’s use, and the clinician-parent alliance. To view, go to http://www.rtc.pdx.edu/pgDataTrends.shtml.
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