Recent posts
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
By a sizable majority, the House yesterday approved a bill to repeal Medicare’s sustainable growth rate formula. Coverage portrays the vote as a rare bipartisan victory for Congress and a win for both House Speaker Boehner and Minority Leader Pelosi. However, the AP(3/27) is reporting this morning that the Senate “has delayed giving final congressional approval... read more
Congress to Repeal the Sustainable Growth Rate
This is not a test. Repeat: This is not a test. Serious movement is underway in Congress to permanently repeal the sustainable growth rate (SGR) before theMarch 31 deadline; repeal legislation, H.R. 1470/S. 810 is expected on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives next week. With so few legislative days left before the deadline,... read more
“It is time to tell everyone who is dealing with a mental health issue in this country that they are not alone and that getting support and treatment isn’t a sign of weakness--it’s a sign of strength,” First Lady Michelle Obama told 500 mental health leaders and advocates at the launch in Washington, D.C., of the “Change Direction”... read more
APA Praises Sens. Grassley, Brown for Bill to Protect Part D Coverage of Needed Mental Health Drugs
APA Praises Sens. Grassley, Brown for Bill to Protect Part D Coverage of Needed Mental Health Drugs ARLINGTON, Va. – Today the American Psychiatric Association (APA) endorsed new Senate legislation that would require Medicare Part D plans to provide robust coverage for six classes of medications, including drugs needed to treat depression and schizophrenia. The... read more