| APAPAC Events
1/26 - 5:00 p.m. - Rep. John Sullivan (R-OK)
1/27 - 11:00 a.m. - candidate Kelly Ayotte (R-NH)
1/29-1/30 - Rep. Jim Matheson (D-UT) |
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DGR Telephone:
703-907-7800 |
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Follow APA Advocacy on Twitter!
The APA Department of Government Relations is now on Twitter! Now you can find out about APA Advocacy activities, Congressional hearings, mark-ups, and floor votes in real time.
Please click on the following link to start following APA Advocacy Twitter:
http://twitter.com/apa_
advocacy
Questions about the Twitter page or how to set up an account? Please contact Kate McAllister or Jason Pray at advocacy@psych.org. | |
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APA Letter to Congressional Leadership
As Congress contemplates how to move forward legislation that reforms our nation's health insurance system, APA sent a letter to congressional leadership on January 21 emphasizing the importance of including mental health parity and a basic benefit package requirement in all qualified health insurance plans. For a link to the letter please visit:
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Advocacy Day
APA's Advocacy Day 2010 event will be held February 7-10, 2010 in Washington, D.C. This year, APA invited more than 50 members from all 50 states to bring APA's legislative message to Capitol Hill. Advocacy Day is designed to give members a first-hand look into the legislative agenda for the second session of the 111th Congress and provide hands-on advocacy training. While in DC, members will meet face-to-face with federal legislators and their staff to discuss key health and mental health policy priorities, including permanently fixing the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR), implementation of health information technology (HIT) efforts that emphasize privacy, and the vital role of mental health services within our nation's healthcare system. It is critical for APA's voice to be heard on Capitol Hill! |
Mental Health Parity Regulations
DGR has heard that the Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), Labor and the Treasury will be issuing the long-awaited regulations on the Wellstone-Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 before the end of the month. We expect that the rule will be an interim final rule with comment, which will go into effect in 30 days with a longer compliance deadline. Once the regulations are released, DGR will begin the process of reviewing and disseminating the information to members, the Hill, employers, interested associations and psychiatry subspecialties, as well as other stakeholders. After the initial release, DGR will begin meetings with the Departments and prepare our comments on the interim final rule. We are also working closely with the Office of Healthcare Systems and Financing to quickly post information on www.mentalhealthparitywatch.com and circulate guidance to APA members. |
Supreme Court's Decision Means We Need Bigger and Stronger PAC
If we, as individuals, want to keep control of our democracy -- rather than have a government paid for by corporate interest checks -- then we have to fight back now and make sure our system reflects the belief that people through existing regulated PACs, not corporations, control our democracy. Help make APA bigger and stronger and our voice louder by support the American Psychiatric Association Political Action Committee (APAPAC) today at:
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Electroconvulsive Therapy Devices
On January 8, DGR filed APA's comments on the FDA's public docket regarding the potential reclassification of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) devices. In the comments, APA urged FDA to reclassify ECT devices into "Class II" which means they would be considered safe through the application of general and special controls. Currently, ECT devices are classified under Class III, but have been treated as Class II devices since 1976 due to regulatory grandfathering. APA's comments focused on the long demonstrated history of safety and efficacy associated with the devices, the lifesaving outcomes of the treatment, and provided substantial scientific evidence to bolster our position. In addition to the organizational comments, APA also solicited comments from members through our grassroots network which was very effective in showing physician support for continued open access to ECT treatment. You can view APA's comments through the link below.
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* Personal contributions preferred. Maximum annual contribution is $5,000. The amounts recommended are only suggested amounts. A person can give more or less than the suggested amount. The amount given by the contributor, or the refusal to give, will not benefit or disadvantage you. Only US Citizens or Green Card holders are permitted to make contributions. | |
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