Fall Scientific Meeting, Psychotropic Medications: Underuse, Overuse and Misuse, on October 29th in Grand Rapids

The Michigan Psychiatric Society is proud to present its annual Fall Scientific Meeting, Psychotropic Medications: Underuse, Overuse and Misuse on October 29, 2010.  The morning will feature lectures and a lively debate on the use of first versus second generation antipsychotics.

After a scrumptious lunch, a final lecture will be preceded by a panel discussion on evidence-based prescribing, tying the scientific to the clinical for use in your practice.  The full day meeting will be held in the beautiful Postma Center on the Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services campus in Grand Rapids.  Use the registration link or contact the MPS office at 517-333-0838 or at mps@mpsonline.org for additional information.  

REGISTER ONLINE 

Michigan corrections mental health studied:  Severe mental disability is prevalent, with 65% not receiving treatment

In 2009, as part of the budget for the Michigan Department of Corrections, the Legislature set aside $400,000 for an independent study of the prevalence of mental illness and prisoners' need for mental health treatment and/or substance abuse services and the provision of these services.  The authorizing budget language required that the study be supervised by an independent psychiatrist. 

This initiative was a result of advocacy by the Mental Health Association in Michigan (MHAM) and Partners in Crisis, a coalition affiliated with MHAM in which MPS participates. The University of Michigan was awarded a contract for the study, with the MHAM providing analysis of correctional policies and procedures. The study is now complete.

Healthcare Reform brings incremental steps closer to Mental Health Parity

While we wait for the Michigan Legislature to pass a law that would provide parity to Michigan citizens whose employers are not subject to the federal parity law, certain provisions in the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) are becoming effective and offer increasing protections against discriminatory coverage. 

Children cannot be denied coverage for pre-existing conditions and may stay on their parents' health plan until age 26 regardless of whether they are enrolled in college or living at home. (In the case of existing group health plans, this right does not apply if the young adult is offered insurance at work.)  This is significant for college age young people who frequently have a first serious episode of a mental disorder and subsequent interruptions in their education that have often lead to loss of coverage under parents' plans.

A new High Risk Pool health plan was established in Michigan for people who are denied insurance due to a pre-existing condition.  Such denials are sometimes due to mental disorders, and this plan may be helpful in some of those cases. Among the qualifying conditions for coverage are psychotic disorders, anorexia nervosa and mental retardation. This program will operate until the insurance exchanges become effective in 2014.

Under the new law, insurance companies are prohibited from imposing lifetime dollar limits on essential benefits.  The Act also restricts and phases out the "annual" dollar limits a health plan can place on most of your benefits-and does away with these limits entirely in 2014. For details on the law and these limits see: HealthCare.gov guide on eliminating limits

The law requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to define Essential Health Benefits, and specifies that such benefits shall include "mental health and substance use disorder services, including behavioral health treatment"

MPS remains watchful and active in our effort to ensure equitable coverage of psychiatric disorders. MPS works with APA and local medical and mental health advocacy groups to monitor the implementation of these federal laws that hold promise for patients with psychiatric conditions.

Summer Meeting a success...next summer's will coincide with Traverse CIty Film Festival...Save the date!

The Michigan Psychiatric Society teamed for the first time with the American College of Osteopathic Neurologists and Psychiatrists to present a Summer Scientific Meeting, A Meeting of the Minds.  Held at the Grand Traverse Resort, just outside Traverse City, on July 22 through 24, the meeting proved to be quite successful.  

Twenty lectures were presented, 10 on neurological and 10 on psychiatric topics. Close to 100 physicians were able to bring their families, relax in the resort setting, and obtain 20 CME credits granted by the University of Michigan or by the American College of Osteopathic Neurologists and Psychiatrists.  MPS members contributed by speaking at the meeting, including Michael Liepman, MD, speaking on Substance Use Disorders and Chronic Pain, and Dale D'Mello, MD, speaking on Metabolic Consequences of Mental Illness: Prevalence, Pathogenesis & Prevention.  Reviews by participants were outstanding and many members expressed the hope that this fruitful partnership continue in the future.
 
Tentative dates for next year's meeting are July 29 through 31, concurrent with the Traverse City Film Festival.

You need a medical professional liability insurance program that is more than just a policy. To safeguard your practice and reputation, you need a real program that includes proactive risk management resources and strategies, offers expert advice on call, and boasts a proven claims defense record.

Anything else is risky business. That's why you should trust The Psychiatrists Program

View or print PRMS details 

____________________________________________________________________________________________

OFFICE SPACE - Available immediately! Beautifully decorated, fully furnished, spacious windowed offices for part-time independent mental health practitioners. WIRELESS INTERNET, fax, copier, waiting room and conference room---ample parking; POTENTIAL REFERRALS; reasonable rates; EASY ACCESS from Woodward / Telegraph / I-75 / M-59. Corner of Square Lake and Telegraph. (248-334-9000).

MPS EDITORIAL:  The Fortune 499

As I write this editorial column, it appears that Congress has vacated for campaigning.  However, they did pass a law to bring some new financial controls to the behavior of Wall Street. More directly related to us, health care reform has passed (and hopefully will survive intact the likely coming challenges), and Federal parity is in place. (We all eagerly await state parity laws in the few states that do not yet have it--including Michigan!)

All of this is about money, which reminds us that mental health care is so much about money too. The cost of mental illness is very large. Just as one example, above and beyond the substantial cost of providing care, it has been estimated that lost yearly earnings for the roughly 6% of Americans with severe mental illnesses is almost 200 billion dollars, and that estimate is from data that is several years old. And that doesn't include the losses produced by less severe, but much more frequent, disorders.

At a recent gathering, it was pointed out that the money involved in the total cost of mental illness is comparable to the revenue involved with 499 of the Fortune 500 companies. I would suggest that we start referring to the cost of mental illness as "The Fortune 499," or just "The 499."

___________________________________________________________________________________