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Eligibility

Medicaid and CHIP provide health coverage to nearly 60 million Americans, including children, pregnant women, parents, seniors and individuals with disabilities. In order to participate in Medicaid, Federal law requires States to cover certain population groups (mandatory eligibility groups) and gives them the flexibility to cover other population groups (optional eligibility groups). More information is available in the Eligibility section.

Benefits

States establish and administer their own Medicaid programs, and determine the type, amount, duration, and scope of services within broad federal guidelines. States are required to cover certain “mandatory benefits,” and can choose to provide other “optional benefits” including prescription drugs. States receive federal matching funds to provide these benefits.  More information is available in the Benefits section.

Cost Sharing

States have the option to charge premiums and to establish out of pocket spending (cost sharing) requirements for Medicaid enrollees. Out of pocket costs may include copayments, coinsurance, deductibles, and other similar charges. More information is available in the Cost Sharing section.

Waivers

The Social Security Act authorizes multiple waiver and demonstration authorities to allow states flexibility in operating Medicaid programs. Each authority has a distinct purpose, and distinct requirements. To find out what kinds of waivers and demonstrations have been proposed and/or approved in each State, see the list below. This option will allow you to find a waiver operated under a specific authority. More information is available in the Waivers section.

Long-Term Services & Supports

The Medicaid program allows for the coverage of Long Term Care Services through several vehicles and over a continuum of settings. This includes Institutional Care and Home and Community Based Services (HCBS). Please click on this option for more information. More information is available in the Long-Term Services & Supports section.

Delivery Systems

States have choices in their approach to reimbursement and delivery system design under the Medicaid Program. More information is available in the Delivery Systems section.

Quality of Care

Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program seek to provide safe, effective, efficient, patient-centered, high quality and equitable care to all enrollees. To achieve these goals, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) partners with States to share best practices and to provide technical assistance to improve the quality of care. More information is available in the Quality of Care section.

Data & Systems

Medicaid.gov is intended to become a major resource for information on Medicaid systems, coding information and data. The plan is to over time enhance the current capabilities of these Medicaid systems to share timely and meaningful Medicaid data. More information is available in the Data & Systems section.

Enrollment Strategies

The Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services (CMCS) works with States to identify and enroll people who are eligible for Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program but who are not enrolled. More information is available in the Enrollment Strategies section.

Program Integrity

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is committed to combating Medicaid provider fraud, waste, and abuse which diverts dollars that could otherwise be spent to safeguard the health and welfare of Medicaid enrollees. More information is available in the Program Integrity section.

Financing & Reimbursement

Medicaid is jointly funded by the Federal government and the States. The Federal government pays States for a specified percentage of program expenditures, called the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP). More information is available in the Financing & Reimbursement section.

Indian Health and Medicaid

The population of American Indians and Alaska natives living in the United States totals 5.2 million according to the Census Bureau.  More than 1 million American Indians and Alaska Natives are enrolled in coverage through Medicaid and CHIP and many more are eligible for coverage as a result of the Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion. Medicaid and CHIP can serve as a critical source of care for this community. More information is available in the Indian Health & Medicaid section.

Outreach Tools

Throughout the nation, efforts to enroll eligible individuals in health insurance are moving forward. Millions are eligible for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) – in many states, more people than ever before – and still need to be connected to the vital health benefits these programs provide. Medicaid and CHIP enrollment is year-round and is not subject to an open enrollment period. Eligible individuals can enroll at any time and get coverage right away. More information is available in the Outreach Tools section.

Medicaid State Plan Amendments

A Medicaid and CHIP state plan is an agreement between a state and the Federal government describing how that state administers its Medicaid and CHIP programs. It gives an assurance that a state will abide by Federal rules and may claim Federal matching funds for its program activities. The state plan sets out groups of individuals to be covered, services to be provided, methodologies for providers to be reimbursed and the administrative activities that are underway in the state. More information is available in the Medicaid State Plan Amendments section.

2014 Drug Safety Communications

FDA Drug Safety Communication: FDA reporting mental health drug ziprasidone (Geodon) associated with rare but potentially fatal skin reactions
12/11/2014
FDA Drug Safety Communication: FDA warns about case of rare brain infection PML with MS drug Tecfidera (dimethyl fumarate)
11/25/2014
FDA Drug Safety Communication: FDA reviews long-term antiplatelet therapy as preliminary trial data shows benefits but a higher risk of non-cardiovascular death
11/16/2014
FDA Drug Safety Communication: FDA approves label changes for asthma drug Xolair (omalizumab), including describing slightly higher risk of heart and brain adverse events
9/26/2014
FDA Drug Safety Communication: FDA recommends not using lidocaine to treat teething pain and requires new Boxed Warning
6/26/2014
FDA Drug Safety Communication: FDA warns of rare but serious hypersensitivity reactions with certain over-the-counter topical acne products
6/25/2014
FDA Drug Safety Communication: FDA review of cardiovascular risks for diabetics taking hypertension drug olmesartan not conclusive; label updates required
6/24/2014
FDA Drug Safety Communication: FDA warns that cancer drug docetaxel may cause symptoms of alcohol intoxication after treatment
6/20/2014
FDA Drug Safety Communication: FDA warns of next-day impairment with sleep aid Lunesta (eszopiclone) and lowers recommended dose
5/15/2014
FDA Drug Safety Communication: FDA study of Medicare patients finds risks lower for stroke and death but higher for gastrointestinal bleeding with Pradaxa (dabigatran) compared to warfarin
5/13/2014
FDA Drug Safety Communication: FDA requires label changes to warn of rare but serious neurologic problems after epidural corticosteroid injections for pain
4/23/2014
FDA Drug Safety Communication: FDA clarifies Warning about Pediatric Use of Revatio (sildenafil) for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
3/31/2014
FDA Drug Safety Communication: FDA approves label changes for antibacterial Doribax (doripenem) describing increased risk of death for ventilator patients with pneumonia
3/6/2014
FDA Drug Safety Communication: FDA to review heart failure risk with diabetes drug saxagliptin (marketed as Onglyza and Kombiglyze XR)
2/11/2014
FDA Drug Safety Communication: FDA evaluating risk of stroke, heart attack and death with FDA-approved testosterone products
1/31/2014
FDA Drug Safety Communication: FDA warns of possible harm from exceeding recommended dose of over-the-counter sodium phosphate products to treat constipation
1/8/2014

EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE:

Emotion holds an over-arching control on humanity.
All decisions are monitored with regards to anger, happiness, boredom, or sheer frustration; how often, for example, have you chosen to watch a particular movie because you were sad? How often have you gone on vacation out of frustration of your daily grind lifestyle? You are a slave to your emotions. They are as much a part of us as your skeleton, as your kidneys and liver.

Your emotions are complex, psychological, involving three segments: a psychological response, a subjective experience, and an expressive, occasionally behavioral response. The subjective experience refers to the fact that people all over the world- regardless of their particular culture-experience the same basic emotions. However, these basic emotions have a highly subjective range of experience. Therefore, sadness means something different for everyone, besides the fact that it is a very basic human response to something upsetting.

Your psychological response is precisely what it sounds like, of course. When your stomach flutters with anxiety, when your heart beats rapidly, you are experiencing psychological responses to your emotions. Research shows that the amygdala, a portion of the brain, triggers these reactions as it enacts a very big role in the formation of emotions, most notably, in the formation of fear. Your behavior response, on the other hand, is your very particular expression of your emotion.

You enact your emotions and show them on your sleeve so often, as the expression goes. These expressions can be universal, like a smile indicating happiness; alternately, they can be cultural.

This expression of emotion is precisely what emotional intelligence is concerned with. Your ability to understand other people’s emotional expression is your emotional intelligence; some researchers state that your emotional intelligence is actually more important than your IQ.

After all, with a proper emotional intelligence, you can interact with people from all over the world. You can parse through any conversation because you understand, essentially what the other person is feeling. You can read them like an open book. Therefore emotional intelligence is like a map to the world.

1. Perceiving Emotions:
The initial step on the road to emotional intelligence is having the ability to correctly perceive emotions. This generally involves picking up on nonverbal clues like facial expression and body language and having the ability to assess what these things mean.

2. Reasoning and Thinking with Regards to These Emotions:
This step requires the utilization of emotions in order to promote cognitive activity. Through emotions, you can begin to prioritize the things you are paying attention to; you can garner your emotions with regards to the things that gain your attention.

3. Comprehending Emotions:
In this step you will look at your emotions a little bit closer. Each emotion carries a plethora of meaning. For example, if you see someone with angry emotions you must understand precisely where this anger came from and what this might mean for the person and for your surroundings. If in this example,, your friend is acting angry, he could be angry with something you sad last night; alternately, he could be angry because he got a speeding ticket or finds himself in a fight with his girlfriend.

The meaning behind different people’s emotions is incredibly varied, and it’s best not to any conclusions. Furthermore, you must begin to comprehend your own emotions. When you feel a certain way, you must diagnose where those feelings came from. What triggers you? This can help you understand yourself a little better.

4.
Managing Emotions:
You must begin to manage and regulate your emotions. Through this, you can begin to respond appropriately to your emotions and the emotions of others. This is the true high-level focus of emotional intelligence. You must have the ability to apply your perceptions of the world……………………

Jan McAvoy

MAY is MENTAL HEALTH MONTH: “B4Stage4;”

“MAY is Mental Health MONTH”
http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/may TOOK KIT:

Every month Mental Health America chooses a theme. This year the theme is “B4stage4.” Mental Health concerns are no different from any other physical condition/health concerns. They should be thought about and treated the same way-long before they reach Stage 4.

For too long mental health has not been framed this way. Instead too many people have been trapped in stage 4 thinking about them. They wait until-after a crisis-until someone is a “danger” for themselves or others. THIS IS WRONG! We do not do this for cancer, heart disease, or diabetes. We shouldn’t do this for Mental Health concerns, either.

So this may we care asking all to help us turn the attention of our nation upstream-before mental health concerns become mental health crises. That’s really what acting B4stage4 is all about. In our May mental health took kit we’re offering a range of materials, strategies, and resources to bring healthy B4stage4 thinking to life. It’s all a part of keeping the focus of the month on mental health-a time we dedicate ourselves to protecting our health, to preserving our mental health, and to preventing bad and sometimes tragic outcomes from ever happening again.

The 2015 May is Mental health month took kit is designed for MHA affiliates, advocates, and organizations, and you of all types to raise awareness of the importance of addressing mental health.

Many of you are likely on your way to planning for mental Health Month, If not here are some ideas to help you.

-Ask your governor or mayor to declare May as Mental Health Month, using the sample proclamation that is part of the tool kit.

-Contact your local heart, diabetes, cancer, or ling association to partner and share messages about mental health and the importance of treating it like any other health condition. Offer to host a work shop or etc.

-Organize a community run or walk for mental health. Reach out to your local media for assistance in promoting the event.

Send a viral email to all your family members, and friends, and local officials inviting them to participate.

-TEAM up with your local school district to promote children’s mental health during National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day (Thursday May 7th.)

– Post to your organization’s social media networks, Face Book, Twitter, Pinterest, Linkedin, etc. to raise awareness of May as Mental Health Month. Make sure to use the May is mental health Month hashtags: #mhmonth2015 or B4Stage4.

LET US KNOW WHAT YOU GOT PLANNED

Tell us about your events so we can post them on MHA’s Web Calendar, and help you get the word out. Contact Antionette Means at ameans@mentalhealthamerica.net with the following information:

-Name of Event
-Date
-Location
-Brief Description
-Registration/Sign-Up instructions
-Contact Person…..

Brochures are available through the Mental Health America store to supplement the information provided in the 2015 B4Stage4-May Mental Health Month Tool Kit!

Many people do not seek treatment in the early stages of mental illness because they do not recognize the symptoms.

Up to 84% of the time between the first signs of mental illness and first treatment is spent not recognizing the symptoms.
Mental Health America’s screening tools can help. Taken “on line” @ http://www.mhascreening.org

A screening is anonymous, free and a private way to learn about your mental health and see if you are showing warning signs of a mental illness. A screening only takes a few minutes, and after you are finished you will be given information about the next steps you should take based on the results. A screening is not a diagnosis, but it can be a helpful tool for starting a conversation with your doctor or a loved one about your “Mental Health.”

MENTAL HEALTH MONTH 2015 “B4Stage4”

-WHEREAS, mental health is essential to everyone’s overall mental health and well-being, and

-WHEREAS, all Americans experience times of difficulty and stress in their lives; and

-WHEREAS, prevention is an effective way to reduce the burden of mental health conditions; and

-WHEREAS, there is a strong body of research that supports specific tools that all Americans can use to better handle challenges, and protect their health and well-being ; and

-WHEREAS, mental health conditions are real and prevalent in our nation; and

-WHEREAS, each business, school, government agency, health care provider, organization, and citizen shares the burden of mental health problems and has a responsibility to promote mental wellness and support “prevention efforts.”
MORE ideas and information to promote Mental health Month of May:

OUT REACH TOOL KIT @ http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/may

Jan McAvoy