19 issue of PLoS One , the study says that some psychedelic drugs may even reduce risk for psychological problems. “After adjusting for other risk factors, lifetime use of LSD, psilocybin, mescaline or peyote, or past year use of LSD was not associated with a higher rate of mental health problems or receiving mental health treatment,” study author Pal-Orjan Johansen, a neuroscientist at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim, Norway, said in a statement . Psychedelic drugs have similar structures to naturally-occurring neurotransmitters, which are chemical messengers found in the brain, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) . The exact way they work is unclear, but they’re thought to temporarily interfere with neurotransmitter action, leading to rapid emotional swings and hallucinogenic “trips” that can last hours (on average six hours for magic mushrooms, or psilocybin, and up to 12 hours for peyote and LSD).
For the original version including any supplementary images or video, visit http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-204_162-57599578/lsd-magic-mushrooms-and-other-psychedelics-not-linked-to-mental-health-woes/
The Affordable Care Act and Expanding Mental Health Coverage
Today, health care providers, mental health advocates, and individuals who have personally experienced mental illness came to the White House to talk about the intersection of two important Presidential priorities: the Affordable Care Act and mental health. The gathering focused on the mental health benefits in the health care law and what we all can do to help Americans get the affordable health care coverage including mental health care coverage they need. The Affordable Care Act is already helping to make health care more accessible and affordable for American families. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act: 71 million privately insured people have gained improved coverage for preventive services 105 million Americans have had lifetime limits removed from their insurance 3.1 million young adults have gained insurance through their parents plans, and Over 6.6 million people with Medicare have saved over $7 billion in prescription drug discounts. The Health Insurance Marketplaces , opening in just a few short weeks, will give individuals and families the chance to learn about and shop for affordable health insurance options. Millions of Americans who dont have insurance will be able to go to healthcare.gov and comparison shop between an array of private health insurance plans. And eligible individuals and families can qualify for tax credits that will make private insurance even more affordable.
For the original version including any supplementary images or video, visit http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/08/21/affordable-care-act-and-expanding-mental-health-coverage
Minimal Fallout Expected From State Auditor’s Mental Health Spending Report
Selix — who co-authored Prop. 63 with Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento), now Senate President Pro Tem and one of the loudest legislative voices calling for the audit — said lack of progress in setting up oversight for spending , as well as the reorganization of the mental health department, had a part in the call for an audit.
“There has been a lot of frustration on my part and my co-author of Proposition 63, Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, over the state’s failure to develop the oversight and outcomes reporting system recommended by this audit report.
“While there is probably some connection to these failures in the decision to eliminate the (mental health) department, it was the broader problem of the fact that the department spent most of its energy on the few thousand people in the state hospitals and only very limited attention to the hundreds of thousands of people in the community mental health system,” Selix said.
He added, “There was a consensus that the two missions should be separated. The main reason that it was moved to the Department of Health Care Services instead of being a separate department was because of the fact that nearly all people served are part of Medi-Cal and to address the need to integrate and coordinate mental health with alcohol and drug and with physical health.”
DHCS oversees Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid program.
Ryan from the mental health directors association said a new game plan for realigned state and county responsibilities is nearly complete.
“We know that the state-county performance contract required by law — which we have supported all along — is already in the final stages of being implemented by DHCS,” Ryan said.
“We also expect and hope that the recommendations regarding statewide performance outcomes and improved data reporting will lead to a much more thoughtful, cost-effective DHCS/MHSOAC/county mental health partnership to universally collect, aggregate, analyze, and disseminate county data whether it be financial, program activities, or outcomes,” Ryan said.
Ryan said MHSA commissioners are heading in the right direction.
“The recently adopted MHSOAC evaluation framework, which was and is supported by CMHDA — is an important step in the right direction. California’s counties have always welcomed the opportunity to demonstrate the value of the community mental health services they provide through the Mental Health Services Act,” Ryan said.
Changes already made are improving oversight, according to Whitney, who said there is evidence that California taxpayers are getting their Prop. 63 money’s worth.
For the original version including any supplementary images or video, visit http://www.californiahealthline.org/insight/2013/minimal-fallout-expected-from-state-auditors-mental-health-spending-report
Dipping Into The Blogpond 