Tag:

Mental Health Services

Newtown Psychologist Admits To $79K Medicaid Fraud Newtown Psychologist Admits To $79K Medicaid Fraud
Newtown Psychologist Admits To $79K Medicaid Fraud A Newtown psychologist and advanced registered nurse pleaded guilty to defrauding Medicaid by billing the government health insurance program for thousands of dollars. Jeannie Pasacreta, age 66, of Newtown, pleaded guilty Wednesday, March 29, to one count of health insurance fraud. In addition, she was ordered to pay $79,418.77 in restitution. An investigation by the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney determined that over a two-year period beginning in 2016, Pasacreta, through her firm Mental Health Services, billed Medicaid for hundreds of claims for se…
White Plains Officials Help Find Permanent Housing For Homeless Woman White Plains Officials Help Find Permanent Housing For Homeless Woman
White Plains Officials Help Find Permanent Housing For Homeless Woman After reaching out to her for several months, city officials in Westchester County were able to find a new residence for a homeless woman just in time for the chilly holiday season.  In early March of 2022, city officials in White Plains learned of a woman living on the streets, leading to the city's mental health outreach team meeting with her in an attempt to help her, according to White Plains Public Safety.  Through repeated meetings with her to gain her trust and assist her, city officials learned that she already had negative experiences with shelters and the Westchester Gui…
Central Jersey School District To Hire Armed Retired Officers Following Uvalde Massacre Central Jersey School District To Hire Armed Retired Officers Following Uvalde Massacre
Central Jersey School District To Hire Armed Retired Officers Following Uvalde Massacre One New Jersey school district will be hiring armed retired police at all of its buildings for the rest of the school year and next, following the horrific Uvalde, TX massacre, NJ Advance Media reported.  The Middletown Board of Education unanimously OK'd the move this week following the mass shooting in Uvalde that killed 19 students and two teachers, the outlet said.  Middletown, with 9,200 students, will have an armed Class III special officer in each of its 16 schools. “This action, along with increased funding for mental health services, is a commitment from our adminis…
Capital District City Approves Funding For More Officers In Schools Capital District City Approves Funding For More Officers In Schools
Capital District City Approves Funding For More Officers In Schools Students will soon see more police officers on campus in Schenectady public schools. The city council approved a controversial agreement between the Schenectady Police Department and the school district Monday, May 9, that will provide up to six officers in schools over the next three years, according to the resolution.  The officers, dubbed community engagement officers, will “enhance the safety and welfare of the students and the overall school community,” reads the resolution. As part of the expanded program, two officers will be placed at Schenectady High School and three others w…
2021 Dutchess Budget Proposal Reduces Spending With No Layoffs Or Tax Increase 2021 Dutchess Budget Proposal Reduces Spending With No Layoffs Or Tax Increase
2021 Dutchess Budget Proposal Reduces Spending With No Layoffs Or Tax Increase Dutchess County's proposed 2021 budget reduced spending by 3.6 percent, or $18.6 million, with no employee layoffs or tax increases, according to County Executive Marc Molinaro.  The $501,832,097 budget, said the release, maintains county services and programs, includes new initiatives to address homelessness and housing, and includes funding for senior services, infrastructure improvements, county parks, mental health services and even police reform measures.  The government's savings were reportedly achieved by reducing the county property tax levy for the seventh consecutive ye…
Police Reform Moves Forward In Dutchess County Police Reform Moves Forward In Dutchess County
Police Reform Moves Forward In Dutchess County Emergency mental health services will be expanded in Dutchess County, while Sheriff's Deputies will be assigned and mandated to use body cameras and take mandated implicit bias and procedural justice training per County Executive Mark Molinaro's 2021 executive budget. “We have a duty here in our community to strengthen what works, fix what is broken, and come together to build a safer and freer home for all," said Molinaro of the measures toward police reform in the 2021 budget.  "Despite the challenges 2020 has presented us, my Executive Budget enhances our County’s mental health…
Healthcare Provider In Fairfield County Ordered To Pay $354K For Improper Billing Healthcare Provider In Fairfield County Ordered To Pay $354K For Improper Billing
Healthcare Provider In Fairfield County Ordered To Pay $354K For Improper Billing A healthcare organization that provides substance abuse and mental health services in Fairfield County, has agreed to pay more than $350,000 in restitution for overcharging for certain services. U.S. Attorney John Durham said that Recovery Network of Programs Inc. (RNP) has entered into a civil settlement with the government to pay $354,367 to resolve allegations that it caused overpayments for urine drug testing services to be paid by the Connecticut Medicaid Program. RNP provides behavioral health and substance use disorder services to Medicaid beneficiaries. An audit by the State of Co…
COVID-19: These Steps Are Needed To Safely Reopen Schools, NY State Teachers Union Says COVID-19: These Steps Are Needed To Safely Reopen Schools, NY State Teachers Union Says
Covid-19: These Steps Are Needed To Safely Reopen Schools, NY State Teachers Union Says With the state set to announce in less than a month plans for reopening schools in the fall, the New York State Teachers Union has offered guidance on how to best get students back in the classroom. NYSUT President Andy Pallotta released a statement following New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announcing an official timeline for when a decision will be made on school reopening. COVID-19: NY State Sets Timeline For Making Decision On Reopening Schools The state will provide public guidelines from the New York State Education Department to districts on Monday, July 13, and school districts will have…
Newest Stats On Connecticut Behavioral Health Newest Stats On Connecticut Behavioral Health
Newest Stats On Connecticut Behavioral Health Like the rest of the country, Connecticut has faced a sharp increase in the need for adolescent mental healthcare over the past decade. But the most recent statistics on Connecticut behavioral health also reveal some good news. According to Mental Health America (MHA)’s annual state rankings for 2020, Connecticut ranks at number two for youth access to care. Hence, more than half (56.1 percent) of young people with major depression received mental health services. However, that means that 43.9 percent did not receive care for depression. Moreover, only 35.4 percent of youth in Connecticut w…
Phelps Explores How To Deal With A Stubborn Teen Phelps Explores How To Deal With A Stubborn Teen
Phelps Explores How To Deal With A Stubborn Teen So your 16-year-old is driving you crazy! Everything you ask him/her to do turns into a fight. You were raised to respect your parents and do what they say, but your child continues to fight you every step of the way. It’s common for parents to use their own experience with their family as a roadmap for navigating tricky situations with their teen. However, parenting is very different today than it was 25 or 30 years ago, so the roadmaps have changed. How your parents raised you may not necessarily work with your child. Because of this, the first thing I always recommend when dealing with a…