April, 2015
By MELISSA HEALY APRIL 21, 2015, 8:06 PM At least a dozen major studies have found that early childhood vaccines do not cause autism. But one possibility remained: that immunizations could cause autism in a small group of children who were already primed to develop the disorder. Now, new research has ruled out that possibility... read more
County Backs Forced Care of Mentally Ill
"Laura's Law" allows courts to require outpatient treatment By Joshua Stewart • U-T11:40 a.m.April 21, 2015Updated4:41 p.m. The San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to implement "Laura's Law," which will give courts power to order treatment for mentally ill people under certain conditions. Supervisor Bill Horn cast the lone opposing vote. San Diego —... read more
Kids in foster care are struggling
BY ROBERT P. HOLLOWAY SPECIAL TO THE BEE 04/16/2015 5:00 PM 04/17/2015 12:00 AM When I was a young boy, my parents decided to share their love by fostering children. Two children stayed with us briefly. Then, a 4-year-old girl was sent to us who had experienced numerous forms of abuse. After a year, we... read more
SENATE PASSES MEDICARE SGR BILL
The New York Times (4/15, A16, Pear, Subscription Publication) reports that the Senate “on Tuesday approved sweeping changes in the way Medicare pays doctors, clearing the bill for President Obama and resolving an issue that has bedeviled Congress and the Medicare program for more than a decade.” Senators voted 92 to 8 to repeal Medicare’s sustainable growth... read more
By GARRETT THEROLF Los Angeles County officials are preparing to crack down on doctors who inappropriately prescribe powerful psychiatric drugs to foster youth and children in the juvenile delinquency system, according to a copy of the plans obtained by The Times. Social workers and child welfare advocates have long alleged that the widespread use of the... read more
By ABBY SEWELL APRIL 13, 2015, 3:00 AM Advocates and mental health practitioners say that California's approach to mental health — and particularly to involuntary treatment — is deeply fragmented across its 58 counties. Lawmakers are trying to address the inconsistency of policies and approaches, but activist groups often disagree about the appropriate balance between... read more
The Nightmare Outcome of a Son's Mental Illness
By ABBY SEWELL APRIL 13, 2015, 3:00 AM Cynthia Hernandez was thinking about the missing dog when she awoke early that September morning in her family's two-story tract home, tucked away in a residential enclave north of a busy commercial corridor in Chino. The 10-year-old cocker spaniel, Sandy, hadn't been seen since the day before.... read more
April 10th is last day for Discounted Registration for SCPS' ADHD Assessment, Intervention & Management
SCPS presents a half-day meeting: ADHD Assessment, Interventions and Management Saturday, April 18th, 2015 8:30 A.M. - 12:15 P.M. The Olympic Collection 11301 Olympic Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90064 CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE DETAILS AND REGISTRATION INFORMATION Unwrapping the Gifts: A Strength-Based Approach to Treating Adult ADHD - Edward (Ned) Hallowell, M.D., Adult and Child Psychiatrist;... read more
Proposed Rule for Applying Mental Health Parity to Medicaid and Children't Health Insurance Program
ARLINGTON, Va .– The American Psychiatric Association welcomes a proposed rule released Monday by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that would require provisions of the Mental Health Parity Act to apply to the majority of Medicaid plans and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). “The proposed rule, by expanding mental health parity,... read more
Unlocking the Secrets of PTSD
Mark Thompson @MarkThompson_DC March 26, 2015 Time.com New efforts to understand exactly how posttraumatic stress disorder affects the brain could reshape treatment for military veterans Deep inside a Boston VA hospital, about two miles south of Fenway Park, four gray freezers are set at a constant temperature of –80ºC. The chill protects the precious contents:... read more