Health Care Reform

Health Care Reform Law and Practice Organization Advocacy Efforts

• Congress approves major opioids policy changes

  The new bill loosens telehealth requirements and promotes non-opioid pain management.

• Behavioral Health Information Technology Coalition sends letter of appreciation to Senators Portman and Whitehouse (PDF, 85KB)

  The BHIT Coalition wrote to Senator Rob Portman and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse expressing their thanks for the leadership shown in spearheading legislation authorizing a behavioral health information technology pilot program.

• Share Your Affordable Care Act Stories

  How has the Affordable Care Act helped you?

• Mental Health Reform Act of 2016 moves forward in US Senate

  Bipartisan legislation would provide vital reforms to mental health funding to increase patient access to effective and evidence-based care.

• APA Practice Organization advocates for professional psychology with US Senate chronic care working group

  The letter addressed integrated care, access to telehealth services, evidenced-based treatments for obesity and more.

• New legislation aims to strengthen mental health system

  Bipartisan Senate leaders prioritize improving outcomes for people with serious mental illness.

• Whom do you know on Capitol Hill?

  APAPO’s new initiative looks to identify key contacts psychologists have with members of Congress.

• New legislation could revamp ailing mental health system

  The bipartisan bill also includes a provision to make psychologists eligible for electronic health record incentive payments.

• APA Practice Organization advocates for childrens’ health care legislation

  New legislation would, among other provisions, include pediatric psychologists in nationally designated children’s hospital care networks.

• Spotlight on treatment of serious mental illness

  APA convention program featuring Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Pa., highlights reforms intended to address the urgent needs of children and adults with serious mental illness.

• New APA office sharpens focus on health care financing

  Efforts will focus on inclusion and reimbursement of psychologists in the health care system.

• The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: Protections and opportunities for practicing psychologists

  The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) expands coverage for more Americans, protects traditional psychological practice, and opens new opportunities for psychologists in private and public health programs.

• New provisions of health care reform law take effect

  Several new provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act went into effect September 23, 2010

• Psychotherapy restoration extension to become law with passage of historic health care reform legislation

  Congress has approved legislation that will extend the 5 percent Medicare psychotherapy payment restoration for all of 2010 retroactive to January 1. This is an important victory on a payment issue critical to psychologists.

Medicaid Participation

• Oregon allows doctoral psychological interns and residents to bill Medicaid

  New law advances integrated care by including psychologists as behavioral health clinicians in patient-centered primary care homes and behavioral health homes.

• Medicaid reimbursement victory in Arkansas

  Mental health services provided by predoctoral psychology interns will be eligible for Medicaid reimbursement as of Sept. 1.

New Opportunities for Psychologists

• Training to help psychologists explore integrated care and alternative practice models

  Practitioners from throughout the U.S. are welcomed to participate in the multistate summit on May 30.

• US Preventive Services Task Force recommends behavioral counseling to prevent cardiovascular disease

  Psychologists are specifically recognized as referral sources for the first time.