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How does managed health care serve the public interest in the delivery of quality mental health services? More than 200 leaders from 60 major mental health organizations, government agencies, and managed care groups tackled that question during the 11th Annual Rosalynn Carter Symposium on Mental Health Policy.

Symposium planners chose the theme "Managing Care in the Public Interest" to reflect the impact of managed care on Americans' access to quality services. Their concern: too much attention has been paid to cost containment and not enough to how managed care affects people. Although health care reform has reached an impasse at the national level, major changes are occurring at state levels and in the private sector.

When the two-day symposium was over, participants had examined the purpose of managed care; how it affects the people it serves; the outcome, quality of service, and participation desired; and what needs to be done to ensure equal treatment and cost for all.  

"It simply does not make sense to develop a system for people without their needs being the first consideration," said Mrs. Carter, chair of The Carter Center's Mental Health Task Force. "Our goal was to create a blueprint for achieving equitable, quality, affordable managed care for those who suffer from mental health problems."

Georgia Forum Helps State Evaluate Own Programs
A month before the November 1995 symposium, Mrs. Carter hosted the Georgia Mental Health Forum. The first of its kind, the forum complements the national symposium by addressing issues of concern to Georgia's mental health community.

Sponsored by The Carter Center Mental Health Program, the Mental Health Association of Georgia, and the Georgia Parent Support Network, the forum on "Within Community" looked at ways to foster Georgia's ongoing reform effort.

More than 300 consumers, family members, policy-makers, and service providers from around the state examined improvements made in mental health services and outcomes since the passage of House Bill 100 in April 1993. The bill divided Georgia into 19 regions, creating regional and community service boards that now plan, govern, and evaluate local mental health services.

Forum panelists agreed that increased participation by consumers and families in decision-making has been an important step forward and that progress has been made in streamlining resources and increasing flexibility within the mental health care system. However, questions remain regarding the ability of regional boards to function effectively with ultimate responsibility for the most vulnerable patients as the mental health care system evolves.

"The forum continues Mrs. Carter's long-term commitment to improving mental health services for Georgia citizens," said John Gates, director of the Center's Mental Health Program. "This is an excellent opportunity to review and renew the best approaches of Georgia's reform movement."