Index of Psychotherapy Finances articles - 2007
General Health News
Population growth in the West, Southwest
Feb p.12*
Health care costs projected to double in 10 years                 Apr p.12*
China uses brutal methods to treat Internet addiction           Apr p.12*
School systems are shortening summer breaks
May p.5*
Babies are watching videos and TV alone
May p.5*
Employers promote marriage improvement programs          May p.11*
Prescription drug sales surged in 2006
 May p.12*
Crystal meth epidemic may be losing its grip
 May p.12*
Decline in smoking rates levels off in adults
Jul p.7*
More Canadians than Americans smoke marijuana                Aug p.6*
Meditation may not make you healthier
Aug p.12*
Use of pain medication in the U.S. is soaring
Sep p.12*
Health insurance premiums rise 6.1% in 2007
Oct p.12*
Women more likely than men to seek online health info       Oct p.12*
Most of us are golddiggers -- or would like to be                  Dec p.12*
Legal and Malpractice Issues
An online list of HIPAA resources
Feb p.7
Psychologist acquitted of whipping patient
Feb p.12*
Can you waive the co-pay for a Medicare visit?
Mar p.7
Answers to questions about co-pays and contracted rates       Apr p.5
Woman gets probation for practicing without a license        Apr p.12*
Points to remember when clinical records are requested         May p.8
Google AdWords may raise new ethical questions
May p.8
HIPAA complaints rise, but enforcement still lax
May p.9
Couples counseling is a confidentiality hazard
May p.9
Five courtroom ‘sins’
Jun p.9
IRS to step up random audit program
Jun p.12*
Answers to your questions about patient records
Jul p.4
Are you an employee or a contractor?
Jul p.5
Answers to questions about bypassing benefits, bartering Aug p.4
Question of waiving benefits comes up often
Aug p.5*
If you’re going to barter, follow these tips
Aug p.6*
Licensing boards cast critical eye on bartering
Sep p.8
A safe alternative to bartering with patients
Sep p.8*
Sexual relationships still top licensing board complaints Oct p.6
Avoid sexual complaints by ditching the couch
Oct p.6*
What gets a licensing board’s attention?
Oct p.7
Two cautionary tales about verifying benefits
Oct p.8
Feds on the trail of providers who owe back taxes Nov p.12*
The value of having a professional will
Dec p.7
Tips from MHN on avoiding board complaints
Dec p.9*
Managed Care Company News
Does MHN policy on OTRs require HIPAA compliance? Jan p.5
UBH begins integrating PacifiCare clinicians
Jan p.11*
MHN prepares to launch ‘pay for performance’ plan Feb p.8
Magellan starts processing claims with optical scanners Feb p.9*
Processing error results in bounced checks by UBH Mar p.12
ValueOptions is looking for speakers
Apr p.10*
UnitedHealth Group purchases Sierra Health Services Apr p.10
Ceridian says lots of flex spending money is getting lost Apr p.12*
Magellan launches new one-page treatment request forms Jun p.10*
MHN starts using central data source to process apps Jun p.11*
Aetna plans new focus on EAP services for women Jun p.11*
Ceridian touts new work stress reduction program Jun p.12*
Magellan, ValueOptions say providers are satisfied Jun p.12*
Court upholds dismissal of UnitedHealth suit
Jul p.12*
ValueOptions is offering online authorizations
Aug p.11*
Magellan awarded Medicaid contract in Arizona Aug p.11*
WellPoint announces shakeup of top execs
Aug p.11*
MultiPlan rate cuts sock therapists after merger
Sep p.9
A conversation with MultiPlan
Sep p.10
MultiPlan responds to merger complaints
Sep p.10
Aetna claims medical cost offset with case management Sep p.12*
Horizon purchased by Psychiatric Solutions
Oct p.9
Magellan loses $88 million Empire contract
Oct p.10
UBH gets serious about outcomes
Nov p.8
A look at ValueOptions’ select network
Nov p.9
CIGNA Behavioral is offering online provider profiles Nov p.10*
Aetna acquires Schaller Anderson
Nov p.10*
Magellan added to eating disorder suit
Dec p.7
ValueOptions offering direct deposit of fees
Dec p.9*
Managed Care Strategies
NPI numbers will be required by ValueOptions
Jan p.3
Can a client self-pay after using up benefits?
Jan p.4
APA slams magazine torture story
Jan p.5
Is it worth it to pay a fee to join a PPO panel?
Jan p.12*
Another look at the basics as MCOs move to e-claims Feb p.6
Insurers balk at paying for anorexia treatment
Feb p.9*
Wheeling and dealing with MCOs
Apr p.7
The art of successful managed care applications
Apr p.8
Landing a managed care contract can take some time Apr p.9
Answers to questions about managed care credentialing Jun p.3
Has the hour for outcomes measurement come round? Nov p.8
A look at why some managed care claims get rejected Nov p.10*
Two new CPT codes go into effect
Nov p.12*
Marketing and Practice Building
Integrated health approach helps expand referral base Jan p.1
Nine tips for making the most of a media interview
Jan p.8
Tie your media message to current events
Jan p.9
How to write a good press release
Jan p.9*
Tips for doing broadcast interviews
Jan p.10
Landing your own radio show for fun and profit
Feb p.2
Ways to take your radio show to the top
Feb p.4*
Group programs provide multiple advantages
Mar p.1
Clinician targets medically necessary, elective groups Mar p.3*
Don’t forget about low-tech practice building tools May p.3
What is the proper use of fliers and business cards? May p.4*
Combining therapy with your other interests
May p.10
A business built on services for children and adolescents Jun p.4
Health fairs help create new referral sources
Jul p.3
Developing a menu of consulting services
Jul p.6
Print ads work if you place them in the right publication Aug p.3
Can you build a consulting business on humor?
Aug p.7
Developing workshops that people are willing to pay for Sep p.4
No shortage of work for pain management specialists Sep p.6
10 simple and cheap strategies to boost practice income Nov p.1
What is ‘warm calling’?
Nov p.3
Internet addiction creates disparate mini-niche specialties Nov p.5
How to bring in more group therapy clients
Dec p.4
Mental Health News
School causes uptick in psychiatric inpatient admissions Jan p.10*
Binge eating is the most common eating disorder
Jan p.10*
Florida social workers selling cookbook
Jan p.11*
CA psychologists still fighting for hospital privileges Mar p.10*
Self-esteem push is making youth more narcissistic May p.12*
1-800-THERAPIST is for sale
May p.12*
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For men, obesity is depressing but not suicide-inducing May p.12*
White clinicians pollute therapy with racist remarks Jun p.12*
Counselors and MFTs are duking it out in three states Jul p.1
Sex offenders have a high rate of serious mental illness Jul p.5*
What professions are highest risk for substance abuse? Jul p.10*
Is video game addiction a mental illness?
Jul p.12*
Employees say they’re stressed out, but bosses disagree Jul p.12*
Idaho has the highest rate of teen depression
Jul p.12*
Depression is a risk factor for dementia later in life Aug p.6*
Baseball study compares aggressive pitchers by culture Aug p.6*
Kitty Dukakis endorses electro-shock therapy
Aug p.12*
New drug may help treat variety of addictions
Aug p.12*
APA convention in San Francisco draws 16,000
Sep p.12*
Why is parenting so difficult these days?
Oct p.4*
Robotic baby seals boost mental health
Oct p.12*
New study shows ADHD is undertreated
Oct p.12*
Soldier who tried to kill herself faces court martial Nov p.10*
Utah has the highest rate of depression in the country Nov p.11*
Two years after Katrina, victims show PTSD signs Nov p.11*
Florida teens getting high on sewage
Nov p.12*
Australian youth become addicted to online networking Nov p.12*
Chinese turn to brain surgery to treat mental illness Nov p.12*
More women over 30 have eating disorders
Nov p.12*
Primary care docs mishandle depression screenings Dec p.8*
Which professions are happiest?
Dec p.12*
Meteorite causes mass hysteria in Peru
Dec p.12*
AMA says scrap dementia screenings
Dec p.12*
Chinese feel more addicted to the Web than Americans Dec p.12*
Niche Marketing
Treating drug problems, old and new
Feb p.4
Serving an underserved population: clients with OCD Mar p.5
Mini-niches: bad break-ups, soldiers in crisis, shyness Apr p.1
Clinicians detail the ups and downs of Medicare work Mar p.6
Interventions represent a mental health growth area May p.1
High end interventions feature security guys, private eyes May p.2
Maine therapist focuses on treating teenagers
Jun p.4
A cautious clinician jumps into the IOP market
Jun p.6
Clinician’s IOP based on treatment for alcohol abuse Jun p.6
You need a thick skin to do forensic work
Jun p.10
Helping clients kick smoking habit can light up a practice Jul p.6
When treating addicted physicians, get money up-front Jul p.9
Hoarders represent a much-overlooked specialty
Aug p.1
A look at the various methods of hoarding
Aug p.2*
Helping clients live with serious illness
Aug p.7
A look at ways to tap the eating disorders specialty Sep p.2
A clinician who offers workshops on fatherhood
Sep p.5
Presurgery evals for patients getting morphine pumps Sep p.7
A therapist who focuses entirely on parenting issues Oct p.4
Tapping the parenting niche with ‘Homework Club’ Oct p.5*
Selling services to schools as a therapist and consultant Nov p.3
Working with schools on long-term projects
Nov p.4*
Web addiction is a growing, but fast-changing market Nov p.6
Mini-niches: cult survivors, career changers, overspenders Dec p.1
Professional Issues
Membership growth on track for new CSW group Jan p.12*
Fall elections were kind to psychologists
Jan p.12*
California therapists get CEUs via long distance learning Jan p.12*
Celebrities turn out for psychiatrists’ meeting
Feb p.12*
A clinician who bailed out on Medicare over payments Mar p.6
Scope of practice battles rage in California
Mar p.9
One third of Americans think psychiatrists’ ethics high Mar p.12*
Psychologist battles sexism — at the ballpark
Mar p.12*
When it comes to therapy, native language matters May p.5*
Spanish-language resources for therapists
May p.5*
New York psychologists feel ‘whacked’ by Sopranos Jul p.12*
Caregiver stress is on the rise
Jul p.12*
Psych majors draw lowest starting pay among new gradsAug p.12*
Psychologists nix ban on assisting military interrogations Sep p.12*
APA is spending $7.6 million to update its Web site Oct p.12*
NAPPP takes new approach to provider network plan Nov p.10
Social workers battle back after George Will column Nov p.12*
HIPAA hinders health research
Dec p.12*
Public Policy
High deductible health plans get boost from feds
Jan p.11*
Veterans Administration gives nod to MFTs and LPCs Jan p.12*
Congress to consider new mental health parity bills Jan p.12*
One Medicare cut averted, but another one looms
Feb p.1
Deadline for use of the NPI May 23; new forms needed Feb p.2
Parity legislation introduced in House
Mar p.12*
MFTs can be reimbursed directly by TRICARE Mar p.12*
Texas insurance department weighs in on state co-pay law Apr p.6
New round of prescription bills launched
Apr p.10
CMS announces postponement of NPI deadline
May p.5
House and Senate mull very different parity bills
Jun p.1
Web site compares state versions of parity laws
Jun p.2*
A look at eight states with any willing provider laws Jun p.11*
California prescription law bogs down in legislature Jun p.12*
There’s a new government Web page designed to help vets Jul p.5*
Military wants better mental health assessments Aug p.12*
Psychologists, CSW team to reverse rate cuts
Sep p.1
Hawaii’s governor says no to prescribing psychologists Sep p.12*
Pentagon can’t beef up mental health system until 2008 Oct p.12*
Massachusetts lawmakers asked to ban spanking Nov p.10*
File for divorce from the comfort of your own home Dec p.8*
Technology and the Internet
A look ahead at technology trends in behavioral health care Jan p.6
Transitioning to private practice with Web marketing Jan p.6
Write a new chapter in your practice with an e-book Jan p.7
Therapist uses an e-newsletter to promote telegroups Jan p.8
The nuts & bolts of putting video online
Mar p.4
Clinician gets clients with ‘quickie’ Web site
Mar p.9
Ten Web sites you should know about
Apr p.7*
Computer error leads to overestimate of uninsured Apr p.11*
Strategies for improving Web marketing through AdWords May p.6
Learning the basics of Google AdWords
May p.6
Yahoo, MSN fight for share of search ad market
May p.7
Tips from another AdWords pro
May p.7*
Therapists report problems with VISTA operating syst. Aug p.10*
A Web site with workshops, seminars on eating disorders Sep p.3*
Nine therapist Web sites, and why they’re effective Oct p.1
Home page basics: Keep it simple and memorable
Oct p.3
2007 index
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