Articles, Leading Stories
Smoking bans at facilities are more common
By Pamela Berard
After initial controversy, the practice of prohibiting smoking in inpatient psychiatric facilities has taken hold.
In decades past, many considered smoking one of the...
Hospital ER improves psychiatric care
By Janine Weisman
The patient brought to Cape Cod Hospital’s Emergency Center in Feb. 2011 with self-inflicted left wrist lacerations denied being suicidal. But after sutures and a behavioral...
Sequestration: an unknown future for social service agencies
By Phyllis Hanlon
On March 1, the deadlocked debate on the economic future of the country resulted in approximately $85.4 billion in federal spending cuts. Known as the sequester, the funding...
Process delayed in Aetna lawsuit settlement
By Catherine Robertson Souter
A class action lawsuit against health insurance company Aetna has apparently been settled out of court. In December, it was announced that Aetna agreed to settle a class action...
ICD-10 code change deadline pushed back
By Catherine Robertson Souter
While some psychologists are still dealing with the aftermath of changes to CPT codes in January, another, and much broader, code change deadline has been pushed back a...
UnitedHealth Group’s practices challenged in lawsuit
By Catherine Robertson Souter
The New York State Psychiatric Association (NYSPA), along with several patients and their families, has challenged UnitedHealth Group’s (also known as United Healthcare)...
Citing financial realities, CHA shifts adolescent services
By Jo Kadlecek
In recent years, psychiatric service providers across Massachusetts have struggled with payment issues. The reimbursement problem has forced many to revaluate their programs...
Study documents high cost of keeping Taunton State Hospital open
By Janine Weisman
An independent consultant for the Massachusetts State Legislature estimates it would cost the Department of Mental Health (DMH) $12.77 million to keep 45 beds open at Taunton...
Hasbro, Bradley collaborate on new program
By Rivkela Brodsky
With a sick child, it’s not always only a medical issue that needs professional attention. Often, there are concurrent psychological issues that warrant...
New study links mental disorders to common gene
By Jo Kadlecek
Though a new study links five mental disorders to a common gene, it’s too early to tell whether it could affect how practitioners care for patients.
Usually viewed as...