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Show • Concerns that if coverage for mental illness is required, providers of other services will seek mandates for their services as well. • Risks that expansion of benefits may lead to raised reliance on management of care. Regarding the cost of mental illness parity, treatment, and treatment effectiveness: • The costs associated with covering mental illness as part of an insurance benefit depends on characteristics of the population covered, and the mechanics used to manage utilization. • Improvements in the science of treatment for mental illness has helped reduce costs along with a shift from inpatient treatment to treatment in alternative settings. • The national estimated cost increase for parity is 4%. In Utah, the range is 3-5%. The analysis of the Utah market determined that the composite impact on the health insurance market ranges from .7% for Partial Parity to 2.8% for Comprehensive Parity. The lowest cost impact occurs under Partial Parity in the HMO & Gatekeeper delivery system, and the highest impact occurs under Comprehensive Parity in the Fee-for-Service system. • Employers have a stake in understanding the impact of mental illness on the workplace and of insurance parity for mental illness in particular. • Education about mental illness and its impact on families, employers, and society in general is key to finding the best approach for addressing the needs of the mentally ill in Utah. Chronic Care in Utah: A 21st Century Challenge A report prepared by the Utah Department of Health Chronic conditions are a major cause of illness, disability and death in Utah today. Despite broad public awareness of specific life-threatening diseases such as cancer and heart disease, most people are not aware that, collectively, chronic conditions account for three out of every four deaths. In Utah, advancing medical knowledge, including early detection of diseases as well as medical and surgical interventions, has extended the lives of people with disabling chronic conditions, and increased the number of survivors of traumatic injury and birth defects. At the same time, improvements in diet, sanitation, and medical care have significantly extended life expectancy. In addition, the "baby boom" generation, now entering its fifties, will soon swell the over 65 population to record levels, with a corresponding increase in the prevalence of chronic conditions. Unfortunately, our health care and social service systems are not sufficiently organized to meet the needs of the growing numbers of people who are elderly, have chronic conditions, or both. As a result, increasing numbers of people are at risk for deteriorating health; others find that the services they need do not exist; and, still others find that services they need are not accessible. The Heart of the Matter: Facts About Women and Heart Disease A message from the American Heart Association and the Utah Department of Health Heart disease is the number one killer of women in Utah, who represent more than half of the population. Statistics indicate that 40.3% of female deaths are due to heart disease, a ratio of 2 out of every 5 Utah women. Studies of women's awareness and attitudes towards heart disease and stroke show that only 35% of women think heart disease and stroke are the leading causes of death, and only 17% of women 25-34 years of age named Cardiovascular Disease as the number one killer. Heart disease among women is not fully understood because past research has primarily focused on men. Research is finding that there can be gender differences in heart attack symptoms. Some women complain of severe stomach or abdominal pain/burning, instead of the traditional chest pain, while other symptoms include nausea, sudden fatigue, and depression. Six major health tips for women (and men) have been suggested to reduce the risk of heart disease, as well as cancer and diabetes. 1. Participate in at least 30 minutes of physical activity most days of the week. 2. Choose a variety of foods lower in fat and higher in fiber... eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day. 3. Live tobacco free. 151 |