Covering Mental Health:
A Resource Guide for Reporters and Editors

QUALITY CONTROL

Center for Mental Health Services, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Has developed a report card to help consumers evaluate mental health services. It measures how well services improve well-being, access, appropriateness of treatment and prevention efforts. Contact Ronald Manderscheid, chief of the center's Survey and Analysis Branch, through the Office of External Liaison, (301) 443-2792 or (800) 789-2647.

Foundation for Accountability, 520 SW 6th Ave., Portland, Ore. 97204 * (503) 223-2228, fax (503) 223-4336, Web site: http://www.facct.org. E-mail: info@facct.org; David Lansky, Ph.D., president; Doug Davidson, communications, ext. 106.

A nonprofit coalition of corporations, government agencies and consumer groups that develops quality measures for specific medical conditions, including major depressive disorder.

 National Committee for Quality Assurance, 2000 L St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20036 * (202) 955-3500, fax (202) 955-3500, Web site: http://www.ncqa.org. Barry Scholl, communications director, (202) 955-5197.

This nonprofit group accredits managed behavioral-care plans in an effort to improve quality. Standards for behavioral managed-care plans were developed after consulting with employers, consumers, policy makers, health plans, managed behavioral-care organizations and providers.