Government and Regulations

The behavioral health of the nation is improving, according to the 2015 National Behavioral Health Barometer report, published recently by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

The Barometer covers key health care issues, such as substance use, mental illness, suicidal thoughts, and treatment seeking at the national level. It also includes, for comparative purposes, data from several national surveys to help health care providers and policy makers better understand what is going on state by state.

For instance, among adolescents, between 2002 and 2014, nonmedical pain reliever use, binge drinking, and cigarette smoking declined . Among adults 21 and older, since 2010, the percentage reporting heavy alcohol use in the month prior to the survey had not changed significantly. From 2010 to 2014, the percentage of adults who had thoughts of suicide and number of adults who had a serious mental illness did not change significantly.

The percentage of adults who had thoughts of suicide did not change significantly from 2010 to 2014. The number of adults who had a serious mental illness in the previous year also did not change significantly from 2010 to 2014. The number was higher for women and whites compared with that of blacks, Asians, and Hispanics. Serious mental illness was lower among adults aged ≥ 65 years than in other age groups.

In 2014, 69% of adults with serious mental illness received mental health treatment or counseling the year before being surveyed. The percentage was higher than that of 2012, but not significantly different from any other year from 2010 to 2013. However, in 2014, men were less likely to have received mental health treatment or counseling, and adults aged 18 to 25 years were less likely than those aged 26 to 64 years to have received mental health treatment or counseling.

The behavioral health of the nation is improving, according to the 2015 National Behavioral Health Barometer report, published recently by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

The Barometer covers key health care issues, such as substance use, mental illness, suicidal thoughts, and treatment seeking at the national level. It also includes, for comparative purposes, data from several national surveys to help health care providers and policy makers better understand what is going on state by state.

For instance, among adolescents, between 2002 and 2014, nonmedical pain reliever use, binge drinking, and cigarette smoking declined . Among adults 21 and older, since 2010, the percentage reporting heavy alcohol use in the month prior to the survey had not changed significantly. From 2010 to 2014, the percentage of adults who had thoughts of suicide and number of adults who had a serious mental illness did not change significantly.

The percentage of adults who had thoughts of suicide did not change significantly from 2010 to 2014. The number of adults who had a serious mental illness in the previous year also did not change significantly from 2010 to 2014. The number was higher for women and whites compared with that of blacks, Asians, and Hispanics. Serious mental illness was lower among adults aged ≥ 65 years than in other age groups.

In 2014, 69% of adults with serious mental illness received mental health treatment or counseling the year before being surveyed. The percentage was higher than that of 2012, but not significantly different from any other year from 2010 to 2013. However, in 2014, men were less likely to have received mental health treatment or counseling, and adults aged 18 to 25 years were less likely than those aged 26 to 64 years to have received mental health treatment or counseling.

The behavioral health of the nation is improving, according to the 2015 National Behavioral Health Barometer report, published recently by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

The Barometer covers key health care issues, such as substance use, mental illness, suicidal thoughts, and treatment seeking at the national level. It also includes, for comparative purposes, data from several national surveys to help health care providers and policy makers better understand what is going on state by state.

For instance, among adolescents, between 2002 and 2014, nonmedical pain reliever use, binge drinking, and cigarette smoking declined . Among adults 21 and older, since 2010, the percentage reporting heavy alcohol use in the month prior to the survey had not changed significantly. From 2010 to 2014, the percentage of adults who had thoughts of suicide and number of adults who had a serious mental illness did not change significantly.

The percentage of adults who had thoughts of suicide did not change significantly from 2010 to 2014. The number of adults who had a serious mental illness in the previous year also did not change significantly from 2010 to 2014. The number was higher for women and whites compared with that of blacks, Asians, and Hispanics. Serious mental illness was lower among adults aged ≥ 65 years than in other age groups.

In 2014, 69% of adults with serious mental illness received mental health treatment or counseling the year before being surveyed. The percentage was higher than that of 2012, but not significantly different from any other year from 2010 to 2013. However, in 2014, men were less likely to have received mental health treatment or counseling, and adults aged 18 to 25 years were less likely than those aged 26 to 64 years to have received mental health treatment or counseling.

At least 30% of Medicare payments are now tied to quality, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced March 3. Federal officials originally had aimed to achieve this milestone by the end of 2016.

“Thanks to tools provided by the Affordable Care Act, an estimated 30% of Medicare payments are now tied to alternative payment models such as accountable care organizations and bundled payments,” Dr. Patrick Conway, chief medical officer at CMS, said during a press conference.

Approximately $117 billion in Medicare payments in 2016 will be tied to these alternative payment models out of a projected $380 billion in total fee-for-service payments, Dr. Conway said.

Additionally, hospital readmissions were reduced by an estimated 565,000 between 2010 and 2015 and hospital-acquired conditions were reduced by 17% between 2010 and 2014.

Dr. Conway cited three factors for these improvements in health care quality.

First, he noted that there is broad buy-in to the notion that payment systems need to evolve to paying for quality over quantity.

“We see providers, states, communities, payers across this country moving to alternative payment models,” he said, adding that many in the public and private side are participating in the Health Care Payment Learning and Action Network, further demonstrating the drive toward value-based payments.

Second, “We’ve made adjustments to a number of our models and improved them,” he continued. “So with accountable care organizations, we continue to see increase in participation. We think this is because we continue to improve the model over time.” The same is true, he added, with bundled payment models.

And finally, he said “I think at the end of the day, people know this is the right thing to do. It’s the right thing to do for our patients. It’s the right thing to do for our health system.”

In response to a question as to whether the bar was set too low, considering that 20% of payments were tied to quality already when the goal was announced in January 2015, Dr. Conway said that even within the agency, some thought the 30% goal was too ambitious. No new goal for 2016 has been set.

CMS is now focused on part two of the goal: 50% of payments tied to quality by the end of 2018.

Two programs in the near term that will help achieve that are programs related to knee and hip replacement and oncology care.

[email protected]

At least 30% of Medicare payments are now tied to quality, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced March 3. Federal officials originally had aimed to achieve this milestone by the end of 2016.

“Thanks to tools provided by the Affordable Care Act, an estimated 30% of Medicare payments are now tied to alternative payment models such as accountable care organizations and bundled payments,” Dr. Patrick Conway, chief medical officer at CMS, said during a press conference.

Approximately $117 billion in Medicare payments in 2016 will be tied to these alternative payment models out of a projected $380 billion in total fee-for-service payments, Dr. Conway said.

Additionally, hospital readmissions were reduced by an estimated 565,000 between 2010 and 2015 and hospital-acquired conditions were reduced by 17% between 2010 and 2014.

Dr. Conway cited three factors for these improvements in health care quality.

First, he noted that there is broad buy-in to the notion that payment systems need to evolve to paying for quality over quantity.

“We see providers, states, communities, payers across this country moving to alternative payment models,” he said, adding that many in the public and private side are participating in the Health Care Payment Learning and Action Network, further demonstrating the drive toward value-based payments.

Second, “We’ve made adjustments to a number of our models and improved them,” he continued. “So with accountable care organizations, we continue to see increase in participation. We think this is because we continue to improve the model over time.” The same is true, he added, with bundled payment models.

And finally, he said “I think at the end of the day, people know this is the right thing to do. It’s the right thing to do for our patients. It’s the right thing to do for our health system.”

In response to a question as to whether the bar was set too low, considering that 20% of payments were tied to quality already when the goal was announced in January 2015, Dr. Conway said that even within the agency, some thought the 30% goal was too ambitious. No new goal for 2016 has been set.

CMS is now focused on part two of the goal: 50% of payments tied to quality by the end of 2018.

Two programs in the near term that will help achieve that are programs related to knee and hip replacement and oncology care.

[email protected]

At least 30% of Medicare payments are now tied to quality, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced March 3. Federal officials originally had aimed to achieve this milestone by the end of 2016.

“Thanks to tools provided by the Affordable Care Act, an estimated 30% of Medicare payments are now tied to alternative payment models such as accountable care organizations and bundled payments,” Dr. Patrick Conway, chief medical officer at CMS, said during a press conference.

Approximately $117 billion in Medicare payments in 2016 will be tied to these alternative payment models out of a projected $380 billion in total fee-for-service payments, Dr. Conway said.

Additionally, hospital readmissions were reduced by an estimated 565,000 between 2010 and 2015 and hospital-acquired conditions were reduced by 17% between 2010 and 2014.

Dr. Conway cited three factors for these improvements in health care quality.

First, he noted that there is broad buy-in to the notion that payment systems need to evolve to paying for quality over quantity.

“We see providers, states, communities, payers across this country moving to alternative payment models,” he said, adding that many in the public and private side are participating in the Health Care Payment Learning and Action Network, further demonstrating the drive toward value-based payments.

Second, “We’ve made adjustments to a number of our models and improved them,” he continued. “So with accountable care organizations, we continue to see increase in participation. We think this is because we continue to improve the model over time.” The same is true, he added, with bundled payment models.

And finally, he said “I think at the end of the day, people know this is the right thing to do. It’s the right thing to do for our patients. It’s the right thing to do for our health system.”

In response to a question as to whether the bar was set too low, considering that 20% of payments were tied to quality already when the goal was announced in January 2015, Dr. Conway said that even within the agency, some thought the 30% goal was too ambitious. No new goal for 2016 has been set.

CMS is now focused on part two of the goal: 50% of payments tied to quality by the end of 2018.

Two programs in the near term that will help achieve that are programs related to knee and hip replacement and oncology care.

[email protected]

VA health care providers across the country participated in the second annual Access Stand Down February 27th, an effort to reduce the backlog of patients waiting for appointments.

The VA identified about 81,000 veterans who had been waiting more than 30 days for an appointment at a Level 1 clinic. According to the VA, Access Stand Down assessed 93% of those patients. The VA also identified 3,319 patients on its Electronic Wait List (EWL) who had been waiting more than 7 days for an appointment in a Level 1 clinic. By the end of February, 77% of those patients had received an appointment.

Related: VHA Under Harsh Criticism From OIG, GAO

“Addressing access on a grassroots level is probably one of the most important things the VA can do today because despite all the issues that are going on in the VA, access to care is really our central goal: delivering healthcare to veterans,” Ronnie Marrache, the Chief of Medicine at VA Maine told a local TV news station.

The Stand Down came as the VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) publicly released its reports for the first time on the original wait time controversy. The OIG released 14 reports on facilities in Florida, Iowa, and Minnesota. Most of the reports were conducted in 2015 but had not been made publicly available.

Related: VA Falling Behind on Backlog According to the OIG

“OIG has completed more than 70 criminal investigations related to wait times and provided information to VA’s Office of Accountability Review for appropriate action,” The OIG reported. “It has always been our intention to release information regarding the findings of these investigations at a time when doing so would not impede any planned prosecutive or administrative action.”

However, the VA expressed frustration that the reports were being released so long after the investigations. “Many of the investigations that have looked into potential scheduling irregularities examine a point in time going back to when the Department requested that OIG review the Access Audit findings from early 2014, almost 2 years ago,” the VA insisted. “Actions have already been taken where appropriate, and additional training and efforts to increase access to care have been underway since 2014 when these issues were discovered.”

According to the VA, OIG was not able to find any cases in which a VHA senior executive or other senior leader intentionally manipulated scheduling data. In 25 of the 77 investigations OIG completed, it found no scheduling irregularities in 25 of the reports. However in 18 of the reports, OIG did find intentional misuse of scheduling systems. The VA Office of Accountability Review disciplined 29 employees related to the 12 reports “with actions ranging from admonishment to removal.”

VA health care providers across the country participated in the second annual Access Stand Down February 27th, an effort to reduce the backlog of patients waiting for appointments.

The VA identified about 81,000 veterans who had been waiting more than 30 days for an appointment at a Level 1 clinic. According to the VA, Access Stand Down assessed 93% of those patients. The VA also identified 3,319 patients on its Electronic Wait List (EWL) who had been waiting more than 7 days for an appointment in a Level 1 clinic. By the end of February, 77% of those patients had received an appointment.

Related: VHA Under Harsh Criticism From OIG, GAO

“Addressing access on a grassroots level is probably one of the most important things the VA can do today because despite all the issues that are going on in the VA, access to care is really our central goal: delivering healthcare to veterans,” Ronnie Marrache, the Chief of Medicine at VA Maine told a local TV news station.

The Stand Down came as the VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) publicly released its reports for the first time on the original wait time controversy. The OIG released 14 reports on facilities in Florida, Iowa, and Minnesota. Most of the reports were conducted in 2015 but had not been made publicly available.

Related: VA Falling Behind on Backlog According to the OIG

“OIG has completed more than 70 criminal investigations related to wait times and provided information to VA’s Office of Accountability Review for appropriate action,” The OIG reported. “It has always been our intention to release information regarding the findings of these investigations at a time when doing so would not impede any planned prosecutive or administrative action.”

However, the VA expressed frustration that the reports were being released so long after the investigations. “Many of the investigations that have looked into potential scheduling irregularities examine a point in time going back to when the Department requested that OIG review the Access Audit findings from early 2014, almost 2 years ago,” the VA insisted. “Actions have already been taken where appropriate, and additional training and efforts to increase access to care have been underway since 2014 when these issues were discovered.”

According to the VA, OIG was not able to find any cases in which a VHA senior executive or other senior leader intentionally manipulated scheduling data. In 25 of the 77 investigations OIG completed, it found no scheduling irregularities in 25 of the reports. However in 18 of the reports, OIG did find intentional misuse of scheduling systems. The VA Office of Accountability Review disciplined 29 employees related to the 12 reports “with actions ranging from admonishment to removal.”

VA health care providers across the country participated in the second annual Access Stand Down February 27th, an effort to reduce the backlog of patients waiting for appointments.

The VA identified about 81,000 veterans who had been waiting more than 30 days for an appointment at a Level 1 clinic. According to the VA, Access Stand Down assessed 93% of those patients. The VA also identified 3,319 patients on its Electronic Wait List (EWL) who had been waiting more than 7 days for an appointment in a Level 1 clinic. By the end of February, 77% of those patients had received an appointment.

Related: VHA Under Harsh Criticism From OIG, GAO

“Addressing access on a grassroots level is probably one of the most important things the VA can do today because despite all the issues that are going on in the VA, access to care is really our central goal: delivering healthcare to veterans,” Ronnie Marrache, the Chief of Medicine at VA Maine told a local TV news station.

The Stand Down came as the VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) publicly released its reports for the first time on the original wait time controversy. The OIG released 14 reports on facilities in Florida, Iowa, and Minnesota. Most of the reports were conducted in 2015 but had not been made publicly available.

Related: VA Falling Behind on Backlog According to the OIG

“OIG has completed more than 70 criminal investigations related to wait times and provided information to VA’s Office of Accountability Review for appropriate action,” The OIG reported. “It has always been our intention to release information regarding the findings of these investigations at a time when doing so would not impede any planned prosecutive or administrative action.”

However, the VA expressed frustration that the reports were being released so long after the investigations. “Many of the investigations that have looked into potential scheduling irregularities examine a point in time going back to when the Department requested that OIG review the Access Audit findings from early 2014, almost 2 years ago,” the VA insisted. “Actions have already been taken where appropriate, and additional training and efforts to increase access to care have been underway since 2014 when these issues were discovered.”

According to the VA, OIG was not able to find any cases in which a VHA senior executive or other senior leader intentionally manipulated scheduling data. In 25 of the 77 investigations OIG completed, it found no scheduling irregularities in 25 of the reports. However in 18 of the reports, OIG did find intentional misuse of scheduling systems. The VA Office of Accountability Review disciplined 29 employees related to the 12 reports “with actions ranging from admonishment to removal.”

The DoD unveiled its budget proposal for 2017 and requested to increase the cost of health care for military retirees under the age of 65 by an average of 25%. The proposal also combines the 3 current primary TRICARE options into 2 basic plans: TRICARE Select and TRICARE Choice. Under these new plans, retirees must pay a yearly enrollment fee through an open-enrollment process regardless of which option they choose.

Related: White House Budget Invests in Cancer, VA Hiring, and TRICARE

Retirees currently using TRICARE Prime pay $282.60 per year for a single person or $565.20 for a family, while Standard requires no enrollment fee. The new system would require retirees to pay a $350 enrollment fee for individuals or $700 for families for TRICARE Select, and $450 for individuals or $900 for families for Tricare Choice.

According to the DoD the changes are part of an effort to “balance the needs of beneficiaries with requirements to maintain military medical readiness by incentivizing care at the military treatment facilities through lower fees and copays, as well as improving access to military care.”

Related: VA Choice Gets Easier

The proposal also highlights an increase in deductibles, with active duty families under E4 paying $100 for an individual or $200 for families, while all other users would pay $300 for an individual or $600 for a family. However, as mandated by the Affordable Care Act, there is no cost to clinical preventative care.

The increases are part of the DoD's budget request of $524 billion. The request includes no major commissary or housing allowance reform requests, unlike past proposals.

The DoD unveiled its budget proposal for 2017 and requested to increase the cost of health care for military retirees under the age of 65 by an average of 25%. The proposal also combines the 3 current primary TRICARE options into 2 basic plans: TRICARE Select and TRICARE Choice. Under these new plans, retirees must pay a yearly enrollment fee through an open-enrollment process regardless of which option they choose.

Related: White House Budget Invests in Cancer, VA Hiring, and TRICARE

Retirees currently using TRICARE Prime pay $282.60 per year for a single person or $565.20 for a family, while Standard requires no enrollment fee. The new system would require retirees to pay a $350 enrollment fee for individuals or $700 for families for TRICARE Select, and $450 for individuals or $900 for families for Tricare Choice.

According to the DoD the changes are part of an effort to “balance the needs of beneficiaries with requirements to maintain military medical readiness by incentivizing care at the military treatment facilities through lower fees and copays, as well as improving access to military care.”

Related: VA Choice Gets Easier

The proposal also highlights an increase in deductibles, with active duty families under E4 paying $100 for an individual or $200 for families, while all other users would pay $300 for an individual or $600 for a family. However, as mandated by the Affordable Care Act, there is no cost to clinical preventative care.

The increases are part of the DoD's budget request of $524 billion. The request includes no major commissary or housing allowance reform requests, unlike past proposals.

The DoD unveiled its budget proposal for 2017 and requested to increase the cost of health care for military retirees under the age of 65 by an average of 25%. The proposal also combines the 3 current primary TRICARE options into 2 basic plans: TRICARE Select and TRICARE Choice. Under these new plans, retirees must pay a yearly enrollment fee through an open-enrollment process regardless of which option they choose.

Related: White House Budget Invests in Cancer, VA Hiring, and TRICARE

Retirees currently using TRICARE Prime pay $282.60 per year for a single person or $565.20 for a family, while Standard requires no enrollment fee. The new system would require retirees to pay a $350 enrollment fee for individuals or $700 for families for TRICARE Select, and $450 for individuals or $900 for families for Tricare Choice.

According to the DoD the changes are part of an effort to “balance the needs of beneficiaries with requirements to maintain military medical readiness by incentivizing care at the military treatment facilities through lower fees and copays, as well as improving access to military care.”

Related: VA Choice Gets Easier

The proposal also highlights an increase in deductibles, with active duty families under E4 paying $100 for an individual or $200 for families, while all other users would pay $300 for an individual or $600 for a family. However, as mandated by the Affordable Care Act, there is no cost to clinical preventative care.

The increases are part of the DoD's budget request of $524 billion. The request includes no major commissary or housing allowance reform requests, unlike past proposals.

The Million Veteran Program (MVP)—a “mega-biobank”—began enrolling volunteers in 2011, and the program is going strong. As of 2015, 50 recruiting sites and nearly 400,000 veterans had enrolled.

For genomic and other sampling, the Million Veteran Program gathers information via questionnaires, the VA electronic health record, and blood samples from volunteers.

Researchers who conducted a study of the observational, longitudinal program say the strengths of the MVP lie in that it is a VHA program that includes more than 100 research-ready medical centers, a state -of-the-art biorepository, and the “altruistic veteran population.” Most of the health care experiences of the veterans who use the VHA already have been captured electronically for many years.

 So what have researchers learned so far? Of the 20 most common self-reported conditions among 224,610 veterans, the top 5 are hypertension (63%), hyperlipidemia (57%), gastroesophageal reflux disease (34%), tinnitus (32%), and hearing loss (31%).

A “linked but separate” ongoing project of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder enrolled more than 9,500 case patients, who will be matched with control patients from MVP. An intra-MVP study of posttraumatic stress disorder is also under way.

Although attempts to assemble large cohorts don’t always succeed, the feasibility of MVP has been confirmed by progress to date, and plans are ongoing to expand enrollment using web-based strategies, say researchers. They predict the program’s potential includes using the genomic studies as an evidence base for precision medicine in the future.

The Million Veteran Program (MVP)—a “mega-biobank”—began enrolling volunteers in 2011, and the program is going strong. As of 2015, 50 recruiting sites and nearly 400,000 veterans had enrolled.

For genomic and other sampling, the Million Veteran Program gathers information via questionnaires, the VA electronic health record, and blood samples from volunteers.

Researchers who conducted a study of the observational, longitudinal program say the strengths of the MVP lie in that it is a VHA program that includes more than 100 research-ready medical centers, a state -of-the-art biorepository, and the “altruistic veteran population.” Most of the health care experiences of the veterans who use the VHA already have been captured electronically for many years.

 So what have researchers learned so far? Of the 20 most common self-reported conditions among 224,610 veterans, the top 5 are hypertension (63%), hyperlipidemia (57%), gastroesophageal reflux disease (34%), tinnitus (32%), and hearing loss (31%).

A “linked but separate” ongoing project of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder enrolled more than 9,500 case patients, who will be matched with control patients from MVP. An intra-MVP study of posttraumatic stress disorder is also under way.

Although attempts to assemble large cohorts don’t always succeed, the feasibility of MVP has been confirmed by progress to date, and plans are ongoing to expand enrollment using web-based strategies, say researchers. They predict the program’s potential includes using the genomic studies as an evidence base for precision medicine in the future.

The Million Veteran Program (MVP)—a “mega-biobank”—began enrolling volunteers in 2011, and the program is going strong. As of 2015, 50 recruiting sites and nearly 400,000 veterans had enrolled.

For genomic and other sampling, the Million Veteran Program gathers information via questionnaires, the VA electronic health record, and blood samples from volunteers.

Researchers who conducted a study of the observational, longitudinal program say the strengths of the MVP lie in that it is a VHA program that includes more than 100 research-ready medical centers, a state -of-the-art biorepository, and the “altruistic veteran population.” Most of the health care experiences of the veterans who use the VHA already have been captured electronically for many years.

 So what have researchers learned so far? Of the 20 most common self-reported conditions among 224,610 veterans, the top 5 are hypertension (63%), hyperlipidemia (57%), gastroesophageal reflux disease (34%), tinnitus (32%), and hearing loss (31%).

A “linked but separate” ongoing project of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder enrolled more than 9,500 case patients, who will be matched with control patients from MVP. An intra-MVP study of posttraumatic stress disorder is also under way.

Although attempts to assemble large cohorts don’t always succeed, the feasibility of MVP has been confirmed by progress to date, and plans are ongoing to expand enrollment using web-based strategies, say researchers. They predict the program’s potential includes using the genomic studies as an evidence base for precision medicine in the future.

In 2015, the CDC launched several initiatives to help bring down the number of prescription drug overdoses. One initiative called Prevention for States supports states with resources, such as strategies for safe prescribing practices that can be used to advance interventions against overdoses. The CDC also launched When the Prescription Becomes the Problem, a social media site where people tell their stories of opioid abuse to help others learn from their experience.

This year, in an effort to better track drug abuse and deaths and investigate health emergencies related to opioid abuse, the CDC will expand Prevention for States to all 50 states. The CDC is also developing guidelines to help primary care practitioners and other opioid prescribers provide safer care while reducing the risk of addiction and overdose.

In 2015, the CDC launched several initiatives to help bring down the number of prescription drug overdoses. One initiative called Prevention for States supports states with resources, such as strategies for safe prescribing practices that can be used to advance interventions against overdoses. The CDC also launched When the Prescription Becomes the Problem, a social media site where people tell their stories of opioid abuse to help others learn from their experience.

This year, in an effort to better track drug abuse and deaths and investigate health emergencies related to opioid abuse, the CDC will expand Prevention for States to all 50 states. The CDC is also developing guidelines to help primary care practitioners and other opioid prescribers provide safer care while reducing the risk of addiction and overdose.

In 2015, the CDC launched several initiatives to help bring down the number of prescription drug overdoses. One initiative called Prevention for States supports states with resources, such as strategies for safe prescribing practices that can be used to advance interventions against overdoses. The CDC also launched When the Prescription Becomes the Problem, a social media site where people tell their stories of opioid abuse to help others learn from their experience.

This year, in an effort to better track drug abuse and deaths and investigate health emergencies related to opioid abuse, the CDC will expand Prevention for States to all 50 states. The CDC is also developing guidelines to help primary care practitioners and other opioid prescribers provide safer care while reducing the risk of addiction and overdose.

Poor sleep, lack of activity, and unhealthy eating are associated with the top 5 challenges to a soldier’s personal readiness: medically nondeployable status, first-term attrition, obesity and nutrition, musculoskeletal injury, and fatigue. For instance, 1 night of less than 4 hours of sleep can impair a soldier’s performance as much as if they had a 0.10% blood-alcohol level.

Sleep, activity, and nutrition form the Performance Triad—all 3 elements are of equal importance to the Army. However, according to a Performance Triad pilot study, 99.6% of soldiers do not meet all target behaviors. The study also found 78,000 active duty soldiers are considered clinically obese and 180,000 have at least 1 musculoskeletal injury per year, which can prevent them from being deployable. As a result, about one third of newly accessioned soldiers do not complete their first term of enlistment.

The “Health of the Force Report” represents the Army’s first attempt to review, prioritize, and share best health practices. This report also allows leaders to track the health of the Army’s soldiers installation by installation. The Army says the 2015 report provides a snapshot, but the picture does not look great. Data from about 340,000 soldiers at 30 Army installations showed that only 15% of soldiers met the recommended target for sleep, 38% met the target for fitness, and 13% met the target for nutrition. In addition 17% of soldiers were not medically ready: 1,295 new injuries per 1,000 soldiers were diagnosed in 2014, 15% had a diagnosed behavioral health disorder, 14% had one or more chronic condition, 13% were classified as obese, 32% reported using tobacco, 10% had a sleep disorder, and 2% had a substance abuse disorder.

To better understand variation among the installations the Army will use the data to measure the presence or absence of health outcomes. Lt. Gen. Patricia Horoho, US Army Surgeon General and Commander, US Army Medical Command, says the goal is to compel leaders to improve the environment, infrastructure, and nutrition offerings of Army installations.

Poor sleep, lack of activity, and unhealthy eating are associated with the top 5 challenges to a soldier’s personal readiness: medically nondeployable status, first-term attrition, obesity and nutrition, musculoskeletal injury, and fatigue. For instance, 1 night of less than 4 hours of sleep can impair a soldier’s performance as much as if they had a 0.10% blood-alcohol level.

Sleep, activity, and nutrition form the Performance Triad—all 3 elements are of equal importance to the Army. However, according to a Performance Triad pilot study, 99.6% of soldiers do not meet all target behaviors. The study also found 78,000 active duty soldiers are considered clinically obese and 180,000 have at least 1 musculoskeletal injury per year, which can prevent them from being deployable. As a result, about one third of newly accessioned soldiers do not complete their first term of enlistment.

The “Health of the Force Report” represents the Army’s first attempt to review, prioritize, and share best health practices. This report also allows leaders to track the health of the Army’s soldiers installation by installation. The Army says the 2015 report provides a snapshot, but the picture does not look great. Data from about 340,000 soldiers at 30 Army installations showed that only 15% of soldiers met the recommended target for sleep, 38% met the target for fitness, and 13% met the target for nutrition. In addition 17% of soldiers were not medically ready: 1,295 new injuries per 1,000 soldiers were diagnosed in 2014, 15% had a diagnosed behavioral health disorder, 14% had one or more chronic condition, 13% were classified as obese, 32% reported using tobacco, 10% had a sleep disorder, and 2% had a substance abuse disorder.

To better understand variation among the installations the Army will use the data to measure the presence or absence of health outcomes. Lt. Gen. Patricia Horoho, US Army Surgeon General and Commander, US Army Medical Command, says the goal is to compel leaders to improve the environment, infrastructure, and nutrition offerings of Army installations.

Poor sleep, lack of activity, and unhealthy eating are associated with the top 5 challenges to a soldier’s personal readiness: medically nondeployable status, first-term attrition, obesity and nutrition, musculoskeletal injury, and fatigue. For instance, 1 night of less than 4 hours of sleep can impair a soldier’s performance as much as if they had a 0.10% blood-alcohol level.

Sleep, activity, and nutrition form the Performance Triad—all 3 elements are of equal importance to the Army. However, according to a Performance Triad pilot study, 99.6% of soldiers do not meet all target behaviors. The study also found 78,000 active duty soldiers are considered clinically obese and 180,000 have at least 1 musculoskeletal injury per year, which can prevent them from being deployable. As a result, about one third of newly accessioned soldiers do not complete their first term of enlistment.

The “Health of the Force Report” represents the Army’s first attempt to review, prioritize, and share best health practices. This report also allows leaders to track the health of the Army’s soldiers installation by installation. The Army says the 2015 report provides a snapshot, but the picture does not look great. Data from about 340,000 soldiers at 30 Army installations showed that only 15% of soldiers met the recommended target for sleep, 38% met the target for fitness, and 13% met the target for nutrition. In addition 17% of soldiers were not medically ready: 1,295 new injuries per 1,000 soldiers were diagnosed in 2014, 15% had a diagnosed behavioral health disorder, 14% had one or more chronic condition, 13% were classified as obese, 32% reported using tobacco, 10% had a sleep disorder, and 2% had a substance abuse disorder.

To better understand variation among the installations the Army will use the data to measure the presence or absence of health outcomes. Lt. Gen. Patricia Horoho, US Army Surgeon General and Commander, US Army Medical Command, says the goal is to compel leaders to improve the environment, infrastructure, and nutrition offerings of Army installations.

The VA announced it would begin 2 investigations into its Cincinnati-based facilities, aiming to identify whether or not the VA hospital is guilty of misconduct after allegations arose about mismanagement and declining veterans' care. The investigations come in light of a report that nearly 3 dozen current and former medical center employees expressed urgent concerns about the quality of care to VA patients, specifically pointing to cost-cutting and other practices that reduced access to care.

“I fully support the Inspector General’s investigation and I will work to ensure that it is completed quickly and thoroughly,” said Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio, member of the Senate VA committee, in a statement. “This can’t be just another report that gets filed away on a shelf.”

However, the VA continues to tangle with the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), which they claim has prevented the VA from penalizing or firing of accused executives in past scandals.  “The MSPB coddles and protects misbehaving employees rather than facilitating fair and efficient discipline,” said Rep. Jeff Miller of Florida, Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, in a statement. “And as long as we have a system in place that requires a similar standard to discipline federal workers as it does to send criminals to prison, accountability problems at VA and across the government will only continue.”

The board’s powers prevent the VA from being able to reform and recover from the scandals that have rocked it at late, according to Miller.

While calling on Congress to provide new legislation, the VA has also developed a draft rule that would change the pay structure for some management positions to make it easier to hire and fire managers, according to Government Executive. The new rules could also increase pay for top managers.

The VA announced it would begin 2 investigations into its Cincinnati-based facilities, aiming to identify whether or not the VA hospital is guilty of misconduct after allegations arose about mismanagement and declining veterans' care. The investigations come in light of a report that nearly 3 dozen current and former medical center employees expressed urgent concerns about the quality of care to VA patients, specifically pointing to cost-cutting and other practices that reduced access to care.

“I fully support the Inspector General’s investigation and I will work to ensure that it is completed quickly and thoroughly,” said Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio, member of the Senate VA committee, in a statement. “This can’t be just another report that gets filed away on a shelf.”

However, the VA continues to tangle with the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), which they claim has prevented the VA from penalizing or firing of accused executives in past scandals.  “The MSPB coddles and protects misbehaving employees rather than facilitating fair and efficient discipline,” said Rep. Jeff Miller of Florida, Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, in a statement. “And as long as we have a system in place that requires a similar standard to discipline federal workers as it does to send criminals to prison, accountability problems at VA and across the government will only continue.”

The board’s powers prevent the VA from being able to reform and recover from the scandals that have rocked it at late, according to Miller.

While calling on Congress to provide new legislation, the VA has also developed a draft rule that would change the pay structure for some management positions to make it easier to hire and fire managers, according to Government Executive. The new rules could also increase pay for top managers.

The VA announced it would begin 2 investigations into its Cincinnati-based facilities, aiming to identify whether or not the VA hospital is guilty of misconduct after allegations arose about mismanagement and declining veterans' care. The investigations come in light of a report that nearly 3 dozen current and former medical center employees expressed urgent concerns about the quality of care to VA patients, specifically pointing to cost-cutting and other practices that reduced access to care.

“I fully support the Inspector General’s investigation and I will work to ensure that it is completed quickly and thoroughly,” said Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio, member of the Senate VA committee, in a statement. “This can’t be just another report that gets filed away on a shelf.”

However, the VA continues to tangle with the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), which they claim has prevented the VA from penalizing or firing of accused executives in past scandals.  “The MSPB coddles and protects misbehaving employees rather than facilitating fair and efficient discipline,” said Rep. Jeff Miller of Florida, Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, in a statement. “And as long as we have a system in place that requires a similar standard to discipline federal workers as it does to send criminals to prison, accountability problems at VA and across the government will only continue.”

The board’s powers prevent the VA from being able to reform and recover from the scandals that have rocked it at late, according to Miller.

While calling on Congress to provide new legislation, the VA has also developed a draft rule that would change the pay structure for some management positions to make it easier to hire and fire managers, according to Government Executive. The new rules could also increase pay for top managers.

It’s a sad sign of the times that “disaster behavioral health” is a category of mental health care. The Disaster Technical Assistance Center (DTAC) of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration prepares states, territories, tribes, and local entities to deliver an effective behavioral health-related response to disasters.

Whether natural or manmade, the DTAC recognizes the toll disasters take on everyone and have multiple options for helping the people who assist the victims. Those options include webinars and podcasts on resilience and stress management, such as “Understanding Compassion Fatigue and Compassion Satisfaction: Tips for Disaster Responders.”

The Deployment Supports for Disaster Behavioral Health Responders and Self-Care for Disaster Behavioral Health Responders presentations offer advice on every step of disaster response from pre- to post-deployment. “Skills applied in outpatient clinical treatment offices are not the same as disaster response skills,” the DTAC cautions in a presentation. It also advises that the key to resiliency is learning how to identify the symptoms of stress and using available support whenever needed.

The presentations emphasize practical self-care to mitigate such effects as secondary traumatic stress—that is, the experience of trauma symptoms as a result of exposure to clients’ trauma. It was recommended that disaster responders should rest and avoid following all response activities when off duty. Responders also should prepare for physical symptoms such as headaches and exhaustion, and emotional ones such as irritability.

SAMHSA urges disaster responders to monitor compassion fatigue, compassion satisfaction, and burnout regularly.

It’s a sad sign of the times that “disaster behavioral health” is a category of mental health care. The Disaster Technical Assistance Center (DTAC) of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration prepares states, territories, tribes, and local entities to deliver an effective behavioral health-related response to disasters.

Whether natural or manmade, the DTAC recognizes the toll disasters take on everyone and have multiple options for helping the people who assist the victims. Those options include webinars and podcasts on resilience and stress management, such as “Understanding Compassion Fatigue and Compassion Satisfaction: Tips for Disaster Responders.”

The Deployment Supports for Disaster Behavioral Health Responders and Self-Care for Disaster Behavioral Health Responders presentations offer advice on every step of disaster response from pre- to post-deployment. “Skills applied in outpatient clinical treatment offices are not the same as disaster response skills,” the DTAC cautions in a presentation. It also advises that the key to resiliency is learning how to identify the symptoms of stress and using available support whenever needed.

The presentations emphasize practical self-care to mitigate such effects as secondary traumatic stress—that is, the experience of trauma symptoms as a result of exposure to clients’ trauma. It was recommended that disaster responders should rest and avoid following all response activities when off duty. Responders also should prepare for physical symptoms such as headaches and exhaustion, and emotional ones such as irritability.

SAMHSA urges disaster responders to monitor compassion fatigue, compassion satisfaction, and burnout regularly.

It’s a sad sign of the times that “disaster behavioral health” is a category of mental health care. The Disaster Technical Assistance Center (DTAC) of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration prepares states, territories, tribes, and local entities to deliver an effective behavioral health-related response to disasters.

Whether natural or manmade, the DTAC recognizes the toll disasters take on everyone and have multiple options for helping the people who assist the victims. Those options include webinars and podcasts on resilience and stress management, such as “Understanding Compassion Fatigue and Compassion Satisfaction: Tips for Disaster Responders.”

The Deployment Supports for Disaster Behavioral Health Responders and Self-Care for Disaster Behavioral Health Responders presentations offer advice on every step of disaster response from pre- to post-deployment. “Skills applied in outpatient clinical treatment offices are not the same as disaster response skills,” the DTAC cautions in a presentation. It also advises that the key to resiliency is learning how to identify the symptoms of stress and using available support whenever needed.

The presentations emphasize practical self-care to mitigate such effects as secondary traumatic stress—that is, the experience of trauma symptoms as a result of exposure to clients’ trauma. It was recommended that disaster responders should rest and avoid following all response activities when off duty. Responders also should prepare for physical symptoms such as headaches and exhaustion, and emotional ones such as irritability.

SAMHSA urges disaster responders to monitor compassion fatigue, compassion satisfaction, and burnout regularly.

According to Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, nearly half of American adults who could be taking cholesterol-lowering medicines are not. CDC researchers examined data from the 2005-2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys and found that 78 million people aged 21 or older (37% of American adults) were eligible for cholesterol-lowering medication or already taking it. Of those, 56% were taking medication, 47% were making lifestyle changes, 37% were doing both, and 36% were doing neither.

Black adults who did not have a routine place for health care were found least likely to be taking cholesterol-lowering drugs. However, the CDC study also found that black men have a lower prevalence of high cholesterol compared with whites and Hispanics.

Although the study included all forms of cholesterol-lowering medications, nearly 90% of patients were taking statins.

According to Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, nearly half of American adults who could be taking cholesterol-lowering medicines are not. CDC researchers examined data from the 2005-2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys and found that 78 million people aged 21 or older (37% of American adults) were eligible for cholesterol-lowering medication or already taking it. Of those, 56% were taking medication, 47% were making lifestyle changes, 37% were doing both, and 36% were doing neither.

Black adults who did not have a routine place for health care were found least likely to be taking cholesterol-lowering drugs. However, the CDC study also found that black men have a lower prevalence of high cholesterol compared with whites and Hispanics.

Although the study included all forms of cholesterol-lowering medications, nearly 90% of patients were taking statins.

According to Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, nearly half of American adults who could be taking cholesterol-lowering medicines are not. CDC researchers examined data from the 2005-2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys and found that 78 million people aged 21 or older (37% of American adults) were eligible for cholesterol-lowering medication or already taking it. Of those, 56% were taking medication, 47% were making lifestyle changes, 37% were doing both, and 36% were doing neither.

Black adults who did not have a routine place for health care were found least likely to be taking cholesterol-lowering drugs. However, the CDC study also found that black men have a lower prevalence of high cholesterol compared with whites and Hispanics.

Although the study included all forms of cholesterol-lowering medications, nearly 90% of patients were taking statins.