Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Mixed Results After Cardinal Healthcare Takes Over N.C. Mental Health Care
The Charlotte Observer: Hope, Hurdles In Mental Health: North Carolina's Managed Care
Last spring Cardinal Innovations Healthcare Solutions took control of more than $200 million in Medicaid spending for Mecklenburg County residents with mental illnesses, addictions, autism and similar issues. It was a controversial mandate from the state. County officials wanted to keep local control. Clients and their families feared the focus on cost control would erode care. (Helms, 4/27)
The Chicago Sun-Times: 'Devastating' Closure Of Mental Health Centers To Hit 10,000 Patients Next Month
One of the largest providers of mental health services to poor North Siders is closing — just as the state braces for massive mental health care cuts. And Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart’s office is warning that means there will soon be more mentally ill people in jail. (4/24)
Modern Healthcare: Psychiatric Hospitals To Get Modest Medicare Rate Bump
The CMS is proposing that inpatient psychiatric facilities get a 1.6% rate increase from Medicare in fiscal 2016 under a proposed rule issued Friday. The proposed policy means Medicare would spend $80 million more on psychiatric facilities in fiscal 2016 than in fiscal 2015. However, the increase is smaller than the 2.5% raise they received for the current year. (Dickson, 4/24)
