PHS Pacificare Hlth Sys

* PacifiCare Behavioral Health to Present at New York Business Group on Health Conference, 'Mental Health Benefits: Maximizing Quality and Outcomes' SANTA ANA, Calif., Nov. 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- PacifiCare Behavioral Health Inc. will discuss with New York employers how the behavioral health care industry can measure treatment outcomes, resulting in better care and outcomes for patients by utilizing data that can demonstrate real value -- something that is perceived as a challenge for many benefits purchasers. The information will be presented at the New York Business Group on Health (NYBGH) conference, "Mental Health Benefits: Maximizing Quality and Outcomes," on Friday, Nov. 4 at The Association of the Bar of the City of New York. "The behavioral health field, like any other industry, must show that services provided have clinical and economic value," said Edward Jones, Ph.D., chief clinical officer of PacifiCare Behavioral Health. "However, to do this, our industry must move toward adopting a scientifically validated yardstick to measure patient treatment outcomes. "At PBH, we are focused on data provides objective feedback on how a patient responds to treatment. These data enable us to provide better care and show employers the value and benefit of behavioral health treatment." The timing of the NYBGH conference coincides with the Nov. 1 Institute of Medicine (IOM) report, Improving the Quality of Health Care for Mental and Substance-Use Conditions: Quality Chasm Series. The IOM provides evidence-based information and advice concerning health and public policy to policymakers, health care providers and other professionals. The report is expected to effect positive changes in the way mental health care is viewed and delivered. A key conclusion from the IOM report is that the behavioral health field needs to incorporate a more robust quality-measurement structure. Dr. Jones's presentation will demonstrate how an outcomes-management program can enhance the quality of behavioral health care. "The Institute of Medicine report validates the many steps we have taken at PacifiCare Behavioral Health, recognizing that using objective measurements in behavioral health helps improve care," said Dr. Jones, who had reviewed the report prior to its public release. Another presenter at the conference, Dr. Allen Daniels, professor of clinical psychiatry at the University of Cincinnati, was on the committee that drafted the report. "The IOM report makes significant recommendations on how to improve health care for mental and substance use conditions," he said. "I am glad to have the opportunity to present the findings at the New York Business Group on Health conference." Dr. Jones will discuss how PacifiCare Behavioral Health measures the results of behavioral health treatment through the use of two validated patient self-report measures, the life status questionnaire (LSQ) for adults and the youth life status questionnaire (YLSQ) for children and adolescents. These self-reports are used during the treatment episode to measure whether the care provided is producing the desired outcomes. In aggregate these data let employers know whether the dollars they are spending on care produces meaningful results. "PacifiCare Behavioral Health's outcome-informed approach includes real-time feedback of clinical progress to the treating clinician so that clinicians can make timely adjustments to treatment planning and ultimately make better-informed treatment decisions," said Dr. Jones. "We have long had data on the cost of care, but now with outcomes data we can better measure clinical improvement to concretely show employers the value of the services they are purchasing." Other presenters at the conference will include Collier Case, Sprint Benefits Manager, who will discuss his company's effort to increase diagnosis and treatment of depression, and Eric Goplerud, Ph.D., of George Washington University Medical Center, who will describe employers' efforts to evaluate the performance of mental health plans provided to employees. For more information on the "Mental Health Benefits: Maximizing Quality and Outcomes" conference, call the NYBGH at 212-252-7440. About the New York Business Group on Health Founded in 1982, the New York Business Group on Health (NYBGH) is a not-for-profit coalition of 150 businesses and is the only organization in the New York Metropolitan area exclusively devoted to employer health benefit issues. NYBGH functions as the forum for businesses to explore contemporary healthcare issues and find practical resolutions. Members include employers and health-related organizations. About PacifiCare Behavioral Health PacifiCare Behavioral Health (PBH) provides mental health, chemical dependency and employee assistance services to covered members and maintains a national network of behavioral health care practitioners. All PBH Service Centers hold three-year, Full Accreditation from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), the most comprehensive and rigorous accrediting body for managed behavioral health care organizations. PacifiCare Behavioral Health is a wholly owned subsidiary of PacifiCare Health Systems Inc. (NYSE:PHS), with clients including health plans, union trust funds, employers, school districts and public sector agencies. More information on PacifiCare Behavioral Health can be obtained at http://www.pbhi.com/. DATASOURCE: PacifiCare Health Systems Inc. CONTACT: Brad Lotterman, APR of PacifiCare Behavioral Health, +1-714-445-0453, ; or Dan Miller of PacifiCare Health Systems, +1-714-226-3726, Web site: http://www.pbhi.com/

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