The Effect of Treatment for Anxiety/Depression on Healthcare Costs of Patients with Chronic Medical Conditions

Read this brief written by Steve Melek, Consulting Actuary of Milliman, Inc., discussing their current research of concurrent physical and mental illness and the relevance of integrated physical and mental health care. 

The Effect of Treatment for Anxiety

A major study was published on July 30th in the medical journal, Nature, examining characteristics of the human genome of individuals with schizophrenia.  The study may shed new light on how to best treat the condition.  Read the articles below to learn more.

Study finds genetic link to schizophrenia

deCODE and SGENE Consortium Discover Deletions in the Human Genome Linked to Risk of Schizophrenia

Cardiff scientists’ major breakthrough in understanding schizophrenia

The Colorado Rural Healthcare Grant Council has awarded more than $1.9 million in its first year, with a sizeable portion going to Colorado West Regional Mental Health.  Click on the articles below to learn more about what is being funded on the Western Slope.

Health Care Grants go to Western Slope Agencies

- Article from the Grand Junction Sentinel

Colorado West in Glenwood Springs Receives $200K From State to Upgrade IT System

- Article from the Glenwood Springs Post Independent

On Friday, July 25, the Colorado Public Radio show, Colorado Matters, aired a piece discussing how area counties are working to reduce the amount of mentally ill individuals in the jail system.  " A Metro Denver Task Force finds reducing the numbers of mentally ill in jail could cut the jail population in half - and save money. Host Ryan Warner speaks with the task force co-chairs: Paul Siska, Undersheriff for Adams County and Rick Doucet, the Executive Director of the Community Reach Center—also in Adams County." - Colorado Matters.

Visit our Media Releases Section.

The National Council is hosting a live Webinar entitled, Evaluating Performance Management Within Your Organization, on Tuesday, July 29, 2008, 2:00pm.  The Webinar is being presented by Paul Lefkovitz, President of Behavioral Pathway Systems.  This could be an interesting resource for conversation.

Read the Invitation Here

A Guest Commentary in the Denver Post by Megan Ferland, discusses how Colorado is addressing important issues for children.  Read the article. 

"Colorado is pursuing reforms that will provide accessible and cost-effective health care to its residents. To assist with these objectives, the Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council (CBHC) and the Colorado Association of Alcohol and Drug Services Providers (CAADSP) is proposing a behavioral health (BH) model to help guide further discussion with the Colorado Legislature, Governor, health policy makers, providers, and other stakeholders. Additionally, this proposal recommends several actions to expand upon the recommendations made in the Colorado Blue Ribbon Commission for Health Care Reform’s Final Report." -Transforming Colorado’s Behavioral Health System, Executive Summary.  Read the entire publication.

Congress overwhelmingly supported a new Medicare bill that includes the elimination of discriminatory mental health copays.  Read the Press Release from The National Council. 

Learn all about H.R. 6331: Medicare Improvement for Patients and Providers Act of 2008