An approach to mental health services
Article Abstract:
Over the last several decades the cost of health care insurance has increased at a greater rate than inflation. It is estimated that health care costs consume 11 percent of the gross national budget. Mental health care and substance abuse are two of the most costly areas. Companies such as IBM and Xerox have reported large increases, as great as 20 percent, in mental health care costs, and spend approximately 16 percent of their total health care budget on treating mental illness and substance abuse problems. Recent reports have indicated that 15 billion dollars are spent annually on mental health care and substance abuse, representing 15 to 25 percent of the total amount spent on health care. For companies employing 5,000 or more employees, costs have increased 47 percent in a one-year period and average 297 dollars per employee. Many mental health care programs provided by employers require pre-admission approval before an employee can be admitted to a facility. The criteria used in determining whether a patient needs inpatient care for mental illness include the potential for causing harm to himself or others, bizarre behavior that endangers the patient or others, outpatient treatment failure, and the need for medications that require supervision. It can be difficult to determine which types of outpatient counseling services should be covered by health plans. Counseling provided for marital, family, financial, and educational problems should require copayments by the patient or should be excluded altogether from mental health plans. By establishing criteria for inpatient and outpatient treatment the requirement for and the cost of mental health care and substance abuse can be reduced. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)
Publication Name: Journal of Occupational Medicine
Subject: Health care industry
ISSN: 0096-1736
Year: 1991
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Washed up
Article Abstract:
Researchers in Holland discovered that using china cups can be as harmful to the environment as drinking from paper or polystyrene due to the chemicals and energy used in washing the cups. Impact for each product on air, water land and energy is given.
Publication Name: The Economist (UK)
Subject: Business, international
ISSN: 0013-0613
Year: 1992
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Goodwill hunting
Article Abstract:
A carefully managed office Christmas party can play a key role in enhancing a firm's image and communicating a positive message to staff. Companies should also consider offering staff extra flexibility in the pre-Christmas period.
Publication Name: Australian CPA
Subject: Banking, finance and accounting industries
ISSN: 1440-8880
Year: 2000
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