Thursday, July 14, 2005

Bargaining for A Health Care Breakthrough Column by David Broder in the Washington Post, called to our attention by the Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report - "When John Breaux retired from the Senate last year, many assumed that the let's-make-a-deal approach he had perfected in his 18 years of service had vanished with him. In an increasingly partisan and polarized Congress, the bargaining skills Breaux displayed seemed relics of another time. It turns out that we underestimated the conservative Democrat from Louisiana, the canny Cajun whose willingness to negotiate across party lines had made him a valuable ally to both Republican and Democratic presidents. In retirement to a Washington consultant's role, Breaux has resurfaced as the spark plug of a 'Ceasefire on Health Care' campaign that already has achieved a few small successes and is aiming for much bigger breakthroughs in the effort to rescue America's dysfunctional medical delivery system." [Viewing Washington Post stories requires registration, which is free.]  
  

NIH Inquiry Shows Widespread Ethical Lapses, Lawmaker Says LA Times story - "Results from an ongoing internal review of drug company consulting payments to scientists at the National Institutes of Health show the agency's ethical problems are serious and widespread, a House committee chairman said Wednesday. The review examined whether a sample of 81 NIH scientists had moonlighted for industry without getting required permission from the agency, whether they disclosed company payments on annual forms and whether they performed company services on government time. More than half, 44, were found by NIH officials to have violated the agency's then-existing policies or recommendations. Excerpts from the findings, provided in recent days by NIH Director Elias A. Zerhouni to three members of Congress, were obtained by the Los Angeles Times." [Viewing Los Angeles Times stories requires registration, which is free].  
  

Nebraska HHS: Behavioral Health Reform Moves Forward Southwest Nebraska News story - "Real progress is taking place since behavioral health reform was created by LB 1083 in the 2004 Legislative Session. 'There are more services for more people in more communities than ever before,' said Dr. Richard Raymond, Chief Medical Officer for the Health and Human Services System (HHSS). 'Recent negative news stories do a disservice to all of the community programs that are stepping up to the plate to serve people with mental illnesses.' Behavioral Health Reform focuses only on adults committed by Mental Health Commitment Boards who had historically gone to state-operated Regional Centers located in Hastings, Norfolk and Lincoln. Raymond said that Nebraska has seen increases in the number of people served per month by new and expanded behavioral health services. For example, in the 10 months between June, 2004 and April, 2005."  
  

PSB California Connected segment profiles mental health program Times-Standard story - "A local juvenile facility will be the focus of this week's California Connected on public television stations throughout the state. 'Humboldt County's New Horizons program is one of the only jails in the state that provides intensive mental health treatment for youth who have a history of violence, drug addiction, and suicide attempts,' states a PBS press release."