Death of Psychiatrist and Other Soldiers Triggers Inquiry Into Military’s Mental Health Care

Related Links

1. Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Georgia Is Skimping On Mental Health Care, Says Georgia Psychological Association (Medical News Today)
   Late in 2007, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia (BCBSGa) announced that it was cutting its hourly therapy reimbursement rate for clinical psychologists by approximately 19%. This new rate is about the same as you pay your auto mechanic or home handyman per hour. However, unlike your mechanic, BCBSGa wants to pay licensed psychologists about half of what they were paid 10 years ago by BCBSGa.
2. New University of Washington Study Investigates Barriers to Mental Health and Addiction Care in Seattle's Urban ... (PRWeb via Yahoo! News)
   A team of psychologists and mental health professionals have published the results this week of a new study highlighting the issues Seattle residents face when seeking psychiatric care. The report suggests the city is in need of better resources and a more beneficial attitude if the quality of patients' lives is to improve.
3. APA and Health Care Reform: How Far the Thinking Has Come on Mental Health Issues
   As the nation’s uninsured population climbs to 46.3 million and Congress grapples with health care reform, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) has intensified its efforts to advocate for a public health insurance option, insurance market reforms, changes in Medicare’s physician payment system, and preservation of parity for mental health.
4. Few Friends Combined With Loneliness Linked To Poor Mental And Physical Health For Elderly
   Although not having many close friends contributes to poorer health for many older adults, those who also feel lonely face even greater health risks, new research suggests. Older people who are able to adjust to being alone don't have the same health problems. The study is the first to examine the relationships between health and two different types of isolation.
5. Mental Health Parity Within CHIP
   Congress expanded mental health parity when it passed legislation extending and expanding the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). CHIP is the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) program that provides funds to states so they can offer health insurance to children of families who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but who are too poor to afford private health insurance. About 7