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A.
Study Finds Managed Care 'Capitation' System Effective
Narrator:
This is Science Today. In the mid 1990s, the state
of Colorado found itself swamped by the high cost
of Medicaid benefits for the mentally ill. So two
years ago, the state switched to a system called
capitation, where the state pays a set amount per
Medicaid recipient to contractors who decide which
services the patients need. At the time, mental
health advocates feared that the system might deny
vital services to patients in order to save money.
But according to a new study by Joan Bloom, a public
health expert at the University of California, Berkeley,
the fears were mostly unfounded.
Bloom:
What we found in our study was that as you might expect,
that hospitalizations decreased but also outpatient
services decreased.
Narrator:
Bloom also
notes that the study indicates those treated in the
new program showed no signs of worsening mental health-despite
the decreased cost to the state.
Bloom:
The silver lining is that even though services were
reduced, presumably they were services that weren't
necessary. And quality of life or other kinds of mental
health outcomes were not reduced.
Narrator:
For Science Today, I'm Larissa Branin.
B.
. A Special, Comforting Role for Cats
Narrator:
This is Science Today. A dog may be man's best friend
- but not if that man happens to be sick. That's what
researchers at the University of California, Davis
found when they asked dozens of male AIDS patients
whether they found more comfort from dogs or from
cats. According to Dr. Lynette Hart, the study's author,
dogs were more demanding and less of a comfort to
the ailing men than their feline counterparts.
Hart:
Cats were actually the superior pets for these men.
And they had closer feelings of warmth and support
from their animals, whereas the people with dogs were
feeling some level of frustration and almost irritation.
Narrator:
The gap between cats and dogs only increased
as the men's health failed.
Hart:
The
relationship with the dog would become even more disrupted,
whereas the relationship with the cat would become
even much closer and more comforting. So it really
points to a very special role for cats with people
who are in hospice or are limited in their movements
for whatever reason.
Narrator:
For Science Today, I'm Larissa Branin.
C.
Why Health Coverage for Mental Illness is Important
Narrator:
This is Science Today. For several years now, U.S.
legislators have been trying to enact a law requiring
that employers provide equal medical coverage for
mental illness. But there's been concern that such
coverage would further drive up rising insurance costs.
UCLA psychologist Alexander Young conducted one of
the first national studies to evaluate the quality
of mental health care.
Young:
We found that about two-thirds of people with serious
depression or anxiety disorders weren't getting appropriate
treatment during the past year, in fact didn't receive
much of anything that's likely to be helpful. So it
provided an opportunity to really get a more definitive
national sense of what's going on.
Narrator:
Young says in a given year, over nine percent of the
U.S. population has a mental health disorder of some
kind.
Young:
And that's a very high percentage. And so the odds
of people getting these disorders or developing one
of these disorders are actually quite real. We may
just want to ensure that there is adequate mental
health coverage so that people are protected even
if they don't expect these problems to develop.
Narrator:
For Science Today, I'm Larissa Branin.
D.
The Health Benefits of Drinking Beer in Moderation
Narrator:
This is Science Today. By now, we've all heard that
drinking red wine in moderation may be good for our
health, but perhaps less known is the fact that beer
offers the same type of heart-healthy benefits. Charles
Bamforth, a brewing scientist at the University of
California, Davis, says the equivalent of one to two
pints of beer a day - along with a balanced diet and
good lifestyle - provides the same healthy benefits
as wine.
Bamforth:
People often talk often about antioxidants when
referring to red wine. Beer also contains phenolic,
antioxidant materials. One of the most significant
of these is something called ferulic acid, which comes
from the barley. And we must remember that beer comes
from nice wholesome materials like barley and malt.
Nobody would deny that those are very important components
of the diet.
Narrator:
Beer is
also rich in vitamins, including folic acid and calcium.
But Bamforth warns that his study only refers to moderate
consumption of beer.
Bamforth:
Treat it responsibly and treat it with respect. There
is nothing more stupid than drinking to excess in
vast quantities of any type of alcoholic beverage.
Narrator:
For Science Today, I'm Larissa Branin.
E.
Preventive Behavior in Older Populations
Narrator:
This is Science Today. Older women who actively take
part in one preventive health measure, like taking
calcium supplements, are more likely to engage in
others - like getting regular mammograms. Those are
the findings of a UCLA study conducted by David Reuben,
director of geriatric medicine and gerontology. Previous
research suggested old age was one of the factors
contributing to poor adherence to mammography.
Reuben:
What we're seeing here is a change in the dynamic,
whereas older women in this study are going to be
more empowered and take more responsibility.
Narrator:
Reuben says part of this is because the doctor-patient
relationship is no longer so paternalistic.
Reuben:
I think what's happening is it's what they call a
cohort phenomenon - that people who were very much
in this paternalistic mode of receiving health care
will all have passed on and that the up and coming
generation of older people are going to be more empowered
and more participatory in their health care decision
making.
Narrator:
For
Science Today, I'm Larissa Branin.
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