|
DGR Telephone:
703-907-7800 | |
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 at advocacy@psych.org. |
|
|
|
APA Honors Snowe
On September 16 the APA presented Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME), with APA's highest award in advocacy, the Jacob K. Javits Award for Public Service, in recognition of her ongoing efforts for all of those living with mental illness. Senator Snowe has worked throughout her career to end the unfair distinction between physical and mental disorders. One of her most significant accomplishments in mental health was joining forces with Senator John Kerry (D-MA) to champion Medicare co-payment parity. Their hard work was realized in a provision of the 2008 passed Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act. Its passage eliminated the unjust co-pay imbalance for mental health outpatient services, which were 50 percent compared to 20 percent for other medical services. Established in 1986, the Jacob K. Javits Public Service Award honors the legacy of Senator Jacob K. Javits from New York, who served for 24 years and used his position on the then-Labor and Public Welfare Committee to spearhead health legislation, achieving multiple successes on behalf of the mentally ill and on substance abuse issues. The Javits Award is given annually, alternately to a state public servant and a federal public servant. |
Senate Votes Against Repealing Public Health Fund
The Senate on September 14 rejected an amendment to the Small Business Jobs and Credit Act (H.R. 5297) that would have stripped $15 billion from a critical component of healthcare reform, the Prevention and Public Health Fund. The Prevention and Public Health Fund supports many important programs to improve quality and promote health, including efforts to prevent and reduce the incidence of mental illness. The Johanns amendment would have used the $15 billion from the Prevention Fund as an offset for repealing a provision of health reform that strengthens federal enforcement of tax avoidance. Some businesses opposed the tax provision on the grounds that its requirements were costly and overly cumbersome. The Senate on Tuesday also rejected an amendment by Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) that would have reduced the required paperwork for small business, offsetting the cost by closing tax loopholes for oil companies. |
Health Reform Implementation Update
This month, several significant components of healthcare reform will go into effect. These provisions provide for greater consumer protection and restrictions on insurance company abuses. Beginning September 23:
- Young people up to age 26 will be able to remain on their parents' insurance policies.
- Insurers will be prohibited from denying coverage to children with pre-existing conditions.
- Insurers will no longer be able to cancel individuals' policies except in cases of outright consumer fraud.
- Lifetime limits (limits on the amount of money insurers will pay in claims over an individuals' lifetime) will be prohibited.
- New restrictions will be placed on insurers' ability to impose annual limits.
- Insurance plans will be required to cover certain preventive services, including depression screening and regular behavioral assessments for children.
The rules on lifetime/annual limits and preventive care will not apply to plans with "grandfathered" status - meaning plans that have not significantly changed their benefits or cost-sharing requirements since the law's passage. Most plans are expected to lose their grandfathered status over time. |
Merger of NIAAA and NIDA Advances
On September 15, by a vote of 12-3 the Scientific Management Review Board for NIH recommended to Dr. Collins, NIH Director that a "structural merger" on addiction, substance use and abuse move forward. The new Institute's scope will reach beyond NIAAA, NIDA, NIMH and include significant portfolios from the National Cancer Institute, National Institute on Allergy and Infectious Disease among others. Dr. Varmus (NCI) and Dr. Fauci (NIAID) are strong proponents of the new Institute. Dr. Collins will act on the recommendation "in the near future." It is expected that he will appoint a committee to work out the details of the new Institute and after the plan receives Dr. Collins' blessing, the Secretary of HHS will have to approve it. Opinions are mixed on whether or not Congress will have to approve the plan. |
The Affordable Care Act and Behavioral Health Webcast
On September 15, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and SAMHSA Secretary Pamela Hyde met to discuss provisions in the Affordable Care Act. Their talking points centered on how the legislation will help the uninsured deal with prevention, behavioral health disorders and preexisting conditions. Also, HHS and SAMHSA are creating new websites that will provide information on how The Affordable Care Act will affect specific states. To watch the entire video, visit this website: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plbTLrRXNk8.
|
Important Annual Meeting Announcements
APA Members Only: Make Your Housing Reservations, Select Your Courses and Register Early!
- As another member benefit, APA members will have an exclusive opportunity to register, enroll in courses and make their hotel reservations for APA's 2011 annual meeting in Hawaii beginning November 2. Nonmembers will not be able to do so until November 15. Registration and hotel information, including hotel rates and descriptions will go live on APA's Web site at http://www.psych.org/ on November 2. APA members may access this information by logging into Members Corner.
Look Up Annual Meeting Information Online
- Beginning November 2, visit http://www.psych.org/ to view the entire Annual Meeting Advance Registration Packet. This will include information on airline reservations, registration, housing, courses, local information about Hawaii, plus many other topics. The site will be constantly updated as specific details on the scientific program are finalized.
New This Year!
|
|
|
|
|
