HEALTH AFFAIRS Briefing

May 5, 2009 Washington, D.C.

**Save The Date: HEALTH AFFAIRS Briefing
Mental Health Care: Better, But Not Best**

Leading Experts Assess Mental Health Care, Implementing Parity, And Caring For Returning Veterans

Tuesday, May 5, 2009 -- Washington, D.C.

Last year Congress passed legislation prohibiting group health plans that provide mental health coverage from imposing stricter limits on mental health treatment than for other medical or surgical care. This marked a historical milestone for mental health care, burying the unscientific distinction between “mental” and “physical” illness. But although progress has been made in mental health care, much remains to be done.

The May/June 2009 issue of Health Affairs, supported by a grant from the MacArthur Foundation, is a thematic volume on mental health care. The issue will be released at a briefing on Tuesday, May 5, at the Capital Hilton in Washington, D.C. At the briefing:

Sherry Glied of Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health will provide an overview of mental health care in the United States.

Keith Dixon of CIGNA Health Solutions and David Shern of Mental Health America will examine the challenges involved in implementing the new federal mental health parity requirement.

Audrey Burnam of RAND Corporation, Matthew Friedman of the National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder at the Department of Veterans Affairs, and Jennifer Olds, an Army vet who underwent PTSD treatment following sexual trauma, will discuss the challenges involved in providing adequate mental health care to veterans, especially those returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

And Frederick Frese, a psychologist who works in public mental health care and has battled schizophrenia, will speak about his Narrative Matters piece in the thematic issue.

The event is free and open to the public. Here are the details:

WHEN: Tuesday, May 5, 2009 9:00 a.m. – noon

WHERE:  Capital Hilton
                  1001 16th St., NW (northeast corner of 16th and K), Washington, D.C.
                   Metro: Farragut North (Red Line); Farragut West (Blue & Orange Lines)

RSVP: RSVP for this event online at: http://www.burnesscommunications.com/new/new_rsvp.htm?doc_id=879564