The California Association of Health Plans presents: Autism and Alzheimer's Disease seminar in Los Angeles, California. February 18th 2009.
The seminar will consider advances in the treatment of neurological conditions including Autism, Alzheimer's Disease & Schizophrenia and the role of public programs and funding for treatment and care of patients including health plans.
Talks include:
The Science of Mental Health: Advances in our Understanding of Mental Illness. The study of the brain is highly specialized and encompasses a wide range of topics from the development of the brain in utero to the changes that occur with age. However, the purpose is always the same, to understand how to best ensure the health of the brain over a lifetime. In the case of mental illness related research, specialization is even more varied and complex. Moreover, the implications of such research are particularly important to the management and treatment of mental illness in a health care setting. This presenter will discuss the current advances in scientific research surrounding disorders such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, Alzheimer’s Disease and Schizophrenia, and the practical implication for the health care community. -- Dilip V. Jeste, MD, Director, San and Rose Stein Institute for Aging Research
Behavioral Health Comes of Age: Brain Health in the New Frontier for Care and Disease Management. California health plans are exploring the new evidence-based BrainHealth Strategies system that applies advances in brain health measurement to transform care and disease management. As behavioral health issues are comorbid with many medical disorders, the validated brain health markers in BrainHealth Strategies provide assistance in determining effective treatments. The system specifically identifies markers associated with decisions about drug families and non-drug therapies and measures progress during treatment. Health Plans use this system to drive early intervention and physicians use its decision support toselect the most appropriate treatment. The validated foundation and broad capabilities of BrainHealth Strategies can revolutionize health care.
-- David Whitehouse, Chief Medical Officer for Strategy & Innovation, OptumHealth
Mental Health Parity Laws.The road to mental health parity has been one fraught with a wide range of complications and numerous revisions. California's Mental Health Parity Act, AB 88, requires mental health coverage for severe mental illness equal to coverage for physical health, except for Medicare supplement policies and Medi-Cal contracts. Effective since, the road to implementation has not been a smooth one especially given the integral role of the public health system in treating mental illness. The recent passage of the Wellstone-Domenici Mental Health Parity Act of 2008 provides a new complication with significant expansions of parity as well as application to Medicaid. This speaker will discuss the convergence of the federal and state law as well as the implications of these laws given the current role of the public health system. Additional, this session will provide a clear guide to health plan obligations under mental health parity.
-- Mary Antoine, Attorney, Nossaman, Guthner, Knox & Elliott
Alzheimer ’s Disease -- More information on this session to come soon
Plan View. How New Science and Demographic Change Impact Plans:
Mental health care services are not provided in a vacuum. The environment changes quickly due to innovations in science and fluctuations in patient demographics. Scientific advances often bring great cost and take years to determine if the investment is valuable to patients. Health plans are often caught between the desires to provide the latest innovations and the need to balance the health care return to the patient. In particular, as the population ages, we find that the use of resources must shift to reflect the needs of the patient base. The health care community seeks to use all of it resources to ensure long-term benefit to patients. However, we must be careful not to spend unwisely. This speaker will discuss how health plans account for these scientific and demographic changes while meeting the mental health needs of our members.
-- Ian Shaffer, MD, Chief Medical Officer, MHN - A Health Net Company
Autism: System of Care: Caring for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder encompasses a wide range of services from the doctor’s office, school and home. In order to ensure the best care and most successful treatment for autistic children, systems of care often intertwine in convoluted and complex manners. Collaboration can provide a unique opportunity for entities to share what they do best. This panel will discuss best practices in inter-organizational collaboration for the treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder.
-- Dr. Gertrude Carter, Chief Medical Officer, CalOptima
-- Dr. Peter Himber, Medical Director, RegionalCenter of OrangeCounty
Patient View: Autism.Diagnosed at a far greater rate than ever before, Autism Spectrum Disorder can have a devastating impact on the lives of a child and his or her family. Often diagnosed before the age of three, families may find a once happy time turned upside down with the daunting task of finding support and treatment for an autistic child. While no cure is available, the appropriate interventions can provide vast improvements for both the child and family. Support systems for families dealing with autism are often as important as the child’s treatment regime. Greg will discuss the realities facing families with an autistic child as well as the issues health care providers should be aware of in the treatment of the autism.
-- Greg Lizer, Medical Director, CIGNA
Closing - Health Plan Responsibility
The seminar will be held at The Sheraton Gateway Hotel, Los Angeles, CA USA
To register visit: http://www.calhealthplans.org
For Further Information Please Contact:
CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF HEALTH PLANS
Marjorie Telly
1415 L St Ste 850
Sacramento CA USA 95814
916-558-1549 phoneMTelly@calhealthplans.org
http://www.calhealthplans.org
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