News in brief - Aug. 1, 2011

Insured patients have trouble getting psychiatric care

Securing an appointment for psychiatric care is difficult even for privately insured patients, according to a study in the August Annals of Emergency Medicine (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21782557/). Researchers who posed as patients called psychiatrists' offices and claimed to have been evaluated in an emergency department and discharged with instructions to secure a psychiatric appointment within two weeks.

Of 64 Boston-area sites contacted, eight offered appointments and only four granted appointments within two weeks. Nearly a quarter of the sites said they could not grant an appointment without a referral from a primary care physician within their system. Fifteen sites did not return calls after two voice messages. The results show how managed care has limited patients' access to psychiatric care, researchers said.

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Missouri legislation targets physician discipline

A new Missouri law gives the board that licenses and regulates physicians reinforced authority to quickly discipline doctors deemed a danger to the health, safety or welfare of patients.

It also will make it easier for individuals to obtain information about a physician's professional and disciplinary history. Gov. Jay Nixon signed House Bill 265 into law on July 13 (www.house.mo.gov/billsummary.aspx?bill=hb265). The legislation takes effect Aug. 28.

The law requires the State Board of Registration for the Healing Arts to make public professional and disciplinary history on doctors and other health professionals who are either licensed by the board or applying for licensure. It requires the board to hold a hearing to determine whether to take emergency action against a physician -- such as a license suspension or placing restrictions on practice -- for ethical violations, including having sexual contact with a patient or minor, possessing a controlled substance without a prescription, or drug or alcohol abuse.

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