Kaiser Health News (4/12, Andrews) addresses reader questions about insurance coverage for mental health. In response to a question about copays for counselor visits, the article explains the consensus was that a plan could not charge a higher copayment than it does for two-thirds of other medical services.

Related Links:

— “Even Under Parity Rules, Plans May Charge Higher Specialty Copays For Counseling,” Michelle Andrews, Kaiser Health News, April 12, 2016.

HealthDay (4/12, Reinberg) reports that a study recently published in Alcoholism Clinical & Experimental Research found that teenage girls in the US now try alcohol at a younger age than boys. The research found that among 390,000 young Americans aged 12 to 24, more girls tried alcohol as teenagers than boys. After age 19 however, males consumed more alcohol. But, HealthDay reports, “a 2015 report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found adult women are catching up to men when it comes to using and abusing alcohol.”

Related Links:

— “Teenage Girls Now Try Alcohol Before Boys Do: Study,” Steven Reinberg, HealthDay, April 12, 2016.

The Oklahoman (4/13) reports Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said at a healthcare journalism conference, “We find that our prisons are filled with people who need help, who need treatment, and aren’t able to get the kind of support and treatment that they need because they were incarcerated instead of being connected to treatment.” The Oklahoman reports that Murthy often travels around the country speaking about the need for the US to do more to help people struggling with addiction and mental illness.

Related Links:

— “Surgeon General Vivek Murthy: ‘Our prisons are filled with people who need help’,” Jaclyn Cosgrove, The Oklahoman, April 11, 2016.

HealthDay (4/12, Preidt) reports that nearly “14 percent of” some 2,000 “US veterans surveyed during a two-year Veterans Affairs (VA) study reported having suicidal thoughts.” In addition, 65 percent of veterans surveyed “who reported suicidal thoughts…had never gotten any mental health treatment.” The findings were published online March 2 in the Journal of Affective Disorders.

Related Links:

— “Study: Many Vets Struggle With Suicidal Thoughts, Need More Help From VA,” Robert Preidt, HealthDay, April 12, 2016.

HealthDay (4/12, Preidt) reports, “Major and worsening depression may significantly increase seniors’ risk of dementia,” the findings of a study published online March 16 in JAMA Psychiatry suggest. Researchers arrived at this conclusion after following some 2,500 seniors in their seventies for about 11 years.

Related Links:

— “Severe Depression Linked to Dementia in Seniors,” Robert Preidt, HealthDay, April 12, 2016.