Psychiatric Associates of Atlanta Mental Health News |
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
County jails now largest mental health providers Sean Harder 912.652.0496 sean.harder@savannahnow.com HONOLULU - Georgia's not the only state closing mental health facilities and forcing local communities - and taxpayers - to pick up the tab as an increasing number of the mentally ill end up behind bars in county jails. It's a national epidemic, experts at the National Association of Counties meeting said during the third day of the lobbyist organization's conference. Thursday, July 07, 2005
Doctors and drug companies By Jerome P. Kassirer | July 6, 2005 DRUG COMPANIES spend billions of dollars each year on educational programs for doctors in the form of ''unrestricted educational grants." The companies swear that in supporting physicians' meals, meetings, and events, all they care about is educating doctors, but the US Senate is now asking how much of the content of these programs is education and how much is product marketing. Given the impending expansion of prescription drugs through Medicare, it's certainly appropriate for the government to be worrying. In their recent letter, the Senate Finance Committee asked 23 major drug companies to provide extensive data on these grants, including their purposes, total expenditures, and the identity of the recipients. Cautioning about ''potential for abuse," the letter expressed concerns that industry-sponsored programs might increase cost ''and may encourage the use of typically newer, more expensive drugs." For emphasis, the committee gave them only weeks to respond. |
