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Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) can significantly contribute to crisis system planning, coordination at various levels of implementation, such as cross‐sector collaboration and innovation and best practices, according to a new white paper released last week by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents an addendum to the position paper on the use of meningococcal conjugate vaccines (MMCV) in the African meningitis belt issued by the World Health Organization (WHO) Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on Immunization at its meeting in September 2023. Topics include the WHO off-label recommendations for meningococcal vaccines and vaccination that apply to countries in the African meningitis belt and research priorities on the impact of Men5CV vaccine.

The expanded scope of the Medicaid program has accomplished a great deal in bolstering substance use treatment, but further progress will depend on correcting deficiencies in non‐expansion states and within Medicaid managed care entities, a newly published commentary suggests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A scoping review conducted by researchers at Oslo Metropolitan University highlights the challenges faced by undocumented immigrants in accessing emergency healthcare. The study found that legal uncertainties, economic constraints, language differences, and cultural disparities contribute to delayed medical care and worsen health inequities. Undocumented immigrants often rely on emergency departments as their primary source of care due to lack of insurance and knowledge of alternatives. The research emphasizes the need for comprehensive strategies to ensure equitable health outcomes for this vulnerable population, including policy reforms, increased healthcare provider awareness, and community-based interventions. Further research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of these interventions and explore the broader implications of healthcare access disparities. [Extracted from the article]

Intensive outpatient and partial hospitalization or day treatment programs can provide more intensive levels of care with multiple types of therapy, more frequent sessions with mental health professionals, and clinically informed care coordination and case management. This observation on residential treatment is included in a new white paper released this month by the National Association for Behavioral Healthcare (NABH). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Health care payments continue to evolve and shift away from fee‐for‐service payment systems that typically reward volume and move to value‐based payment (VBP) models that incentivize high‐quality, cost‐effective care. While this is happening more for physical health services, there's more uncertainty about the role of behavioral health. A new white paper aims to tackle that question with information about existing models that have been implemented along with recommendations for federal and state policymakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) working paper from Jennifer L. Doleac and Anita Mukherjee, which found that greater opioid abuse and opioid-related crime has resulted from laws expanding access to the overdose-rescue drug naloxone. According to the study, there is no evidence that naloxone leads more people to search for fentanyl.

An over‐reliance on federal block grants and "one‐off" funding initiatives has left the addiction treatment system under‐resourced to respond to an addiction crisis that stands to be at least as deadly as COVID‐19 during the span of the Biden administration, a trio of prominent researchers argue in a newly released policy paper. The authors suggest that the new administration and Congress should prioritize efforts to build on what they consider the most impactful developments in improving access and quality in addiction treatment, such as Medicaid expansion and parity mandates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports that the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) issued a white paper on October 6, 2016 stating social stigma as a major issue in accessing mental health treatment. Topics discussed include the potential of marriage and family therapists in rendering mental health services on issues like depression, anxiety and addiction, the approach of CAMFT in promoting access to mental health treatment, and the formation of a public outreach committee.

As e-cigarettes become increasingly popular, MPs have tried to ascertain their safety. By Graham Cope [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the aim of the Reforming the Mental Health Act white paper appears good in strengthening people's rights, expanding and providing more culturally appropriate advocacy and offering treatment choice to patients, this is contradicted by changes proposed in Health and Care Bill.

There have been many calls for federal changes to address the opioid epidemic, but one from Beau Kilmer, senior policy researcher and director of the Drug Policy Research Center at the RAND Corporation, released last week is a particularly interesting distillation that doesn't omit pros and cons for each strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the policy document "Race for the Soul of the Profession" from the British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP) to address inequalities that prevent people from marginalised and racialised communities in accessing mental health support.

The article discusses a white paper issued by Beacon Health Options "Confronting the Crisis of Opioid Addication" calling for a focus on outpatient medication-assisted treatment by primary care. Topics discussed include its focus on the need to treat opioid addiction as chronic condition, its criticism of providers of detox who did not participate in the continuum of care needed for chronic conditions and its support for 10 levels of care of the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM).

The primary manner by which states have been using Medicaid to expand access to substance use disorder (SUD) treatment may actually be making it more difficult for individuals to receive the services most appropriate to their needs, a newly released paper suggests. Moreover, this preferred strategy in many cases violates the law, authors with the National Health Law Program contend. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information about an update of the consultation on the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy children and young people’s mental health green paper.

The article offers information on "Social Determinants of Health: Improving Capture and Use by Applying Data Governance Strategies," paper by American Health Information Management. It discusses that paper focuses on identified opportunities and challenges associated with the collection and use of social determinants as well as how facilities may improve their governance of social determinants of health data.

Recognizing that telehealth is a critical tool for improving care access and continuity, two New York state provider and advocacy organizations — citing a decrease in no‐show rates and overall telehealth service satisfaction— are urging state leaders to continue providing flexibility in telehealth treatment modalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two recent research papers highlight ongoing deficiencies in the provision of addiction and mental health treatment services to veterans, though the report focusing on depression treatment for patients with substance use disorders (SUDs) suggests that shortcomings in treatment for co‐occurring disorders affect all populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Policy changes that offered a telehealth option for initiation of buprenorphine treatment were seen as potentially a major boost to access, but a newly published study based on patient experiences in two states suggests that the move has resulted in new barriers to care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers various news briefs on health care topics including the release of Quick Safety Issue 68 by the U.S non-profit organization The Joint Commission, emphasizing the effectiveness of validated screening tools for suicide risk. It also mentions the acceptance of applications for the 2023 Bernard J. Tyson Award and the launch of The Joint Commission's blog on advancing health care equity.

Two research papers published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal discuss the barriers faced by transgender, nonbinary, and gender-diverse individuals in accessing surgery and healthcare. These individuals often experience discrimination and fear of discrimination, leading to delays in seeking medical care. The studies highlight the need for improved access to gender-affirming surgery, reduced wait times, and better care experiences. A related article argues that gender self-determination is a medical right and calls for healthcare providers to examine their gatekeeping practices. The editor-in-chief of the journal emphasizes the importance of compassionate and validating care for transgender and gender-diverse patients. [Extracted from the article]

The Latino population in the United States faces significant health disparities compared to their White counterparts. Community-based processes in Gallatin County, Montana, through academic-community partnerships have identified strategies to overcome these barriers. One such strategy includes the utilization of community health workers (CHWs) in the Latino population—in Spanish, "Promotores de Salud." CHWs are often selected to target community health problems because they share the cultural, social, and demographic features of the population they serve. This paper explores the inherent ties between Catholic Social Teaching and the CHW health care model while focusing on a community-academic partnership in Montana that is implementing a CHW program. Catholic health care providers are called to apply CST principles to their health care systems and communities in order to achieve health equity for their patients. This paper proposes that community organizing and advocacy should be taught in medical school curricula across the country in order to promote physician involvement in solving public health disparities. Additionally, the authors suggest that practicing Catholic health care providers immediately incorporate community organizing through the use of CHWs to attain health equity for their patient panels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses issues related to the plan of extending health care services for patients who need to visit outside regular hours in Great Britain. The question arises whether general practitioners are expected to work all hours of the day and night and whether the government can afford to fund the plan. Robbie Coull, a locum, says providing extended hours is not in the business interests of general practitioners.

In findings that the author called "glaring" and "startling," a newly published study documents an association between lower levels of educational attainment and steeper increases in recent drug overdose deaths. The disparities in overdose deaths based on education level have become particularly prominent since 2018, a finding that the investigator has attributed in part to the effects of a dynamic opioid market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eligible applicants include public agencies, nonprofit organizations, and organizations with a nonprofit fiscal sponsor, including free clinics and community health centers. Geographic scope: Virginia Description: The Virginia Health Care Foundation's Health Access Grants seek to increase access to medical, dental, and mental healthcare for uninsured Virginians and those who live in areas with limited access to care. Application deadline: The fall 2023 deadline for concept papers is July 14. [Extracted from the article]

Medicare Advantage plans have become an increasingly attractive insurance option for older Americans, but results of a new study suggest that in many cases the cost savings they bring could come at the expense of access to psychiatric services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A civil conflict broke out in northern Mali in 2012, which is continuing to the present day. Very little is known about its impact on civilians. In this paper we show how to use birth history data to build long time series of mortality rates, and we use novel synthetic control methods to estimate the impact of the Malian civil conflict on child mortality. We find that conflict produced a significant increase in under-5 mortality, and that the impact was negligible on infant mortality but large on child mortality. We analyse trends of key mortality determinants, and conclude that a reduction in vaccination rates and in access to health care in childhood were the most likely mediators of impact. Northern Mali is today one of the poorest and most neglected areas of the world where humanitarian assistance is urgently needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent publication of a World Scientistsʼ Warning to Humanity highlighted the fact that climate change, absent strenuous mitigation or adaptation efforts, will have profound negative effects for humanity and other species, affecting numerous aspects of life. In this paper, we call attention to one of these aspects, the effects of climate change on medicinal plants. These plants provide many benefits for human health, particularly in communities where Western medicine is unavailable. As for other species, their populations may be threatened by changing temperature and precipitation regimes, disruption of commensal relationships, and increases in pests and pathogens, combined with anthropogenic habitat fragmentation that impedes migration. Additionally, medicinal species are often harvested unsustainably, and this combination of pressures may push many populations to extinction. A second issue is that some species may respond to increased environmental stresses not only with declines in biomass production but with changes in chemical content, potentially affecting quality or even safety of medicinal products. We therefore recommend actions including conservation and local cultivation of valued plants, sustainability training for harvesters and certification of commercial material, preservation of traditional knowledge, and programs to monitor raw material quality in addition to, of course, efforts to mitigate climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new study conducted by researchers at Universidad CES highlights the impact of vitiligo on patients' quality of life in Latin America. The study emphasizes the need for increased disease awareness, research, and access to treatment options. The researchers recommend that governments, medical societies, academics, patient organizations, industry, and the public work together to address these challenges and improve outcomes for vitiligo patients. The study provides valuable insights into the landscape of vitiligo in Latin America and calls for action to eliminate barriers to diagnosis and treatment. [Extracted from the article]

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in recent weeks has moved toward allowing private for‐profit opioid treatment programs (OTPs) to access the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment (SAPT) block grant. First, in an Aug. 4 letter, SAMHSA directed states to allow the block grant to be used to help for‐profit OTPs procure methadone vans (see "SAMHSA says SAPT BG can be used to procure methadone vans," ADAW, Aug. 23; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adaw.33174). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study conducted by Griffith University in Southport, Australia, examined the access to publicly funded bariatric surgery in Queensland. The study found that people living in regional areas of Queensland, particularly those of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ethnicity, have less access to healthcare compared to their metropolitan counterparts. The Bariatric Surgery Initiative (BSI) aims to address this gap by providing metabolic bariatric surgery as a public service accessible to all Queenslanders. The study revealed that more patients from metropolitan areas underwent surgery, possibly due to a lack of referrals from regional locations. However, the BSI has improved access to the service, and all patients, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, experienced significant health benefits after surgery. The research suggests that a state-wide central referral hub is an effective approach to providing equitable access to bariatric surgery regardless of location or ethnicity. The findings have implications for practitioners and provide a framework that can be extended to other specialty services and jurisdictions. [Extracted from the article]

A recent report from Andrews University in Michigan highlights the need for physical therapist practice to evolve in order to address public health needs. The report emphasizes the importance of scalable, population-level interventions to improve access, decrease costs, and enhance the quality of care for individuals facing health disparities. By applying public health frameworks, physical therapists can play a crucial role in mitigating disease and disability and improving health outcomes. The report also discusses the potential for digital and virtual health advancements to reshape the role of physical therapists within the broader healthcare system. [Extracted from the article]

The article reports that a history forum titled ``Addressing Disparities in Access to Care'' was organized in celebration of the teachings of Martin Luther King, Jr. co-sponsored by the Bjoring Center, the Women's Center and the Darden School's Office of Diversity.

This article from Scientific American features interviews with researchers, physicians, advocates, and others working on health equity. The interviewees express their concerns but also share reasons for optimism. They highlight progress in widening access to healthcare, making science more inclusive, and reducing the health burden of systemic racism and biases. The interviewees also emphasize the importance of young people's activism, the need for change in global health practices, the measurement of racism, the transformation of health systems, and the diversification of the public health workforce. Overall, the interviews provide hope for the future of health equity. [Extracted from the article]

Adoption of a unified public health framework for the treatment of opioid use disorders (OUDs) would encourage more continuity of care and use of evidence‐based medication treatments to combat the crisis, suggest researchers with Columbia University and the New York State Psychiatric Institute. Moreover, they state in a newly published paper, the "Cascade of Care" framework they seek to advance could be used to improve accreditation standards they believe do not sufficiently address providers that do not use methadone, buprenorphine or injectable naltrexone in their treatment of opioid addiction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The year ended on a high note for the mental health field with the release of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 (also known as the "Omnibus"). The omnibus appropriations funding package, which passed Dec. 23, 2022 by the House of Representatives and earlier in the week by the U.S. Senate, contains key mental health provisions, including significant increases for the Community Mental Health Services Block Grant and for Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on a report released by the Association for Behavioral Health and Wellness which highlights role of member behavioral health organizations (BHOs) in treatment of individuals with opioid use disorders. It mentions that the report was made by behavioral health professionals including Sharon Reif, Peter Kreiner and Ruslan Nikitin. The report reflects on the need of including licensed alcohol or drug counselors to substance use disorder (SUD) network for improved treatment.

The article presents the discussion on poignant exchange with Palestinian nurse Nada Abu Baree, who shared a video of herself working on an unresponsive child in the war-torn Al-Aqsa Hospital before ceasing communication. Topics include difficult working conditions, the emotional impact of her work; and the uncertainty surrounding her safety.

The article discusses the benefits and challenges of physical therapy (PT) group sessions. Topics covered include the differences between group sessions or classes and group therapy during a PT practitioner visit, the situations where each of them can be most effective, and the availability of free virtual classes and patient outreach. Also noted are the conduct of group exercises run by fitness instructors who lack PT training.