Friday, March 05, 2004

New York Statewide Comprehensive Plan for Mental Health Services
A report, in Adobe Acrobat format, made available through the Open Minds web site - " This Statewide Comprehensive Plan for Mental Health Services 2004-2008 is prepared in compliance with Mental Hygiene Law, Section 5.07. It represents a continuation of the Office of Mental Health’s commitment to insure that New Yorkers have appropriate access to the highest possible quality of mental health care. The Plan represents a departure from previous documents in two important respects. First, it combines future planning directions as required by statute with a description of agency progress during the period 2001-2003. Second, it encompasses a broad range of topics beyond the scope of services to adults with serious mental illness and children with serious emotional disorders."  
  

Managed Care Steps Outside Its Traditional Role to Help Patients & Control Treatment Cost
An article from the November 2003 Open Minds newsletter that is now available at no charge at their web site - "The greatest challenge facing the health care industry today is escalating costs. PacifiCare Behavioral Health (PBH) takes an approach that runs contrary to many in the managed care industry. The company believes in ensuring its members receive both the right type and right amount of care from those clinicians who have demonstrated the best outcomes. This puts the focus on care – not costs. PBH calls this approach Best Care. Paradoxically, the result is lower treatment cost, which ultimately contributes to more manageable rates for the health care purchaser..."