Thursday, July 07, 2005

Psychosocial and psychological interventions for prevention of postnatal depression: systematic review  British Medical Journal paper which concludes that "Diverse psychosocial or psychological interventions do not significantly reduce the number of women who develop postnatal depression. The most promising intervention is the provision of intensive, professionally based postpartum support."  
  

US prescription drug abusers top 15 million- study  Reuters story at Yahoo - "The number of Americans who admit abusing prescription drugs nearly doubled to over 15 million from 1992 to 2003, with abuse among teens tripling, according to a new study released on Thursday. The report by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University suggested that more Americans were abusing controlled prescription drugs than cocaine, hallucinogens, inhalants and heroin combined." See also the full report, Under the Counter: The Diversion and Abuse of Controlled Prescription Drugs in the U.S. (in PDF format).  
  

Drug Lobby Second to None: How the pharmaceutical industry gets its way in Washington Report at the Center for Public Integrity web site - "The pharmaceutical and health products industry has spent more than $800 million in federal lobbying and campaign donations at the federal and state levels in the past seven years, a Center for Public Integrity investigation has found. Its lobbying operation, on which it reports spending more than $675 million, is the biggest in the nation. No other industry has spent more money to sway public policy in that period. Its combined political outlays on lobbying and campaign contributions is topped only by the insurance industry. The drug industry's huge investments in Washington—though meager compared to the profits they make—have paid off handsomely, resulting in a series of favorable laws on Capitol Hill and tens of billions of dollars in additional profits..."  
  

Recent Developments in State Medicaid Programs Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report coverage of recent developments in Alaska, Georgia, Pennsylvania and Washington. In Georgia, "The state Department of Community Health on Tuesday said that a June agreement with CMS to stop using a financing tactic deemed inappropriate will result in a $300 million budget gap for Medicaid next year, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. The shortfall this year will be about $146 million. State officials said they plan to assess a fee on HMOs that serve Medicaid beneficiaries to recover some of the funding."  
  

Mental health bills set to become law (New Jersey) Gloucester County Times story - "Two of Acting Gov. Richard Codey's mental health initiatives have cleared the Legislature, giving confidence to mental health workers that he will stand behind the promises made in his State of the State Address last winter. One bill will establish a $200 million special needs housing trust fund which, over the next 10 years, is expected to help create 10,000 new affordable housing options for both the mentally ill and for those with other types of special needs. A second initiative will authorize a "competent adult" to put forth an advance directive for mental health care. "  
  

State phases in mental health drug list (Florida) Daytona Beach News-Journal story - "Some people who rely on Medicaid to pay for psychiatric drugs will get two months to either switch to a drug on a new state list or have their doctor justify why they should continue on their current drug, officials said Wednesday. A new list of medications that will be paid for by the state's Medicaid program without prior approval was finalized Wednesday, following an order by lawmakers that the state cut the $2.4 billion Medicaid drug budget by nearly $300 million. The state is trying to do that by only paying for drugs on the list in most cases -- and only letting companies get their drugs on the list if they agree to give the state a discount."