Briefs Highlight Issues Involving Integration Of Mental Health Services In Health Reform; Statehealthfacts.org Adds New, Updated Data; More

Main Category: Health Insurance / Medical Insurance
Also Included In: Mental Health;  Medicare / Medicaid / SCHIP
Article Date: 17 Nov 2008 - 7:00 PDT

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"Integration of Mental Health in Healthcare Reform," Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law: The series of issue briefs highlights several issues related to the integration of mental health services in health care reform, including the primary care provider's role in mental health; the integration of mental health in the public health system; the role of federal programs like Medicaid, SCHIP and Medicare; improving care for people with severe mental illnesses; medical homes and integration of mental health; and integration of mental health in quality-assurance policies ("Integration of Mental Health in Healthcare Reform," Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, November 2008).

New and updated data, Statehealthfacts.org: Statehealthfacts.org recently added new and updated data on Center on Budget and Policy Priorities about projected state budget shortfalls for fiscal year 2009 also is available. In addition, the Web site has updated 2006 Medicare enrollment data from CMS, distribution of Medicare beneficiaries by eligibility category and 2008 Medicare prescription drug plan data from the Kaiser Family Foundation's Medicare Health and Prescription Drug Plan Tracker (Kaiser Family Foundation release, 11/13).

"Program Perspectives on Health Benefits," U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: The first issue of the Bureau of Labor Statistics' new online publication, BLS Program Perspectives, uses data from the National Compensation Survey to illustrate trends in employer costs for health benefits. The perspective also includes data on employer-sponsored health plan access, participation and premiums (Bureau of Labor Statistics release, 11/13).

Reprinted with kind permission from http://www.kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at http://www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.

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