What Does it Take?

While exploring my options for future work in the

field of mental health policy, I learned this

interesting tidbit:



When someone is hospitalized for suicide idealation or

a suicide attempt, the doctors must make a change in

thier medication regime so that the insurance

companies will be conviced of the necessity of

hospitalization.  In other words, wanting to kill

oneself is not a good enough reason to be hospitalized

(although there was a time when it was).  The reported

reason for hospitalization becomes 'the patient must

be observed while he/she alters their medication

regime.'  The irony is that most medications used to

treat mental illness require 4-6 weeks to take effect;

the average stay in the hospital is probably somewhere

around 5 days. 



Do you think drug companies had anything to do with

the change in policy?  I have an incling they did.