What We’re Reading: March 9, 2015

This week we’re reading about the indirect costs of limited mental health resources, gaps in measuring LTSS rebalancing, the top four lessons of the ADA, and much more.

• In the U.S., the direct and indirect costs of mental health conditions – including loss of productivity and profitability – make mental health issues perhaps the most expensive chronic health condition in the nation, suggests GOOD magazine. The solution? Efforts to increase mental health resources are a win-win for people with mental health conditions as well as “tax collectors and corporations.”

• Disability Scoop is looking at new, affordable and independently run and operated housing opportunities in Florida for people with developmental disabilities. More from Disability Scoop: exploring how the “MacGyver of assistive technology” uses everyday, inexpensive items to support individuals with disabilities.

• The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation suggests measuring LTSS rebalancing remains a gap in assessing HCBS quality, with measure work ongoing.

• Federal investigators are recommending Medicare reduce unnecessary psychiatric prescriptions for older adults with dementia, reports The New York Times.

• NAB convener Lex Frieden is featured in The Austin American Statesman with four lessons of the ADA: the importance of self-advocacy, the importance of coalitions, leadership and perseverance.