Federal News & Issues

Analysis Uncovers Significant Inequalities Between Mental and Physical Health: Lower Payments to Providers and Wide Disparities in Access to Benefits


Data Points to Potential Violations of Mental Health Parity Laws; Shows Higher Out-of-Pocket Costs for Consumers When Compared to Physical Health

(Washington, DC) – Physical healthcare providers are receiving significantly higher payments from insurers than addiction and mental health providers for the same types of services, finds a groundbreaking, independent report published today by Milliman, Inc. and released by a coalition of America’s leading mental health and addiction advocacy organizations. In the Milliman report, commissioned by the Bowman Family Foundation, researchers found that along with payment disparities, which occur in 46 out of 50 states, “out-of-network” use of addiction and mental health treatment providers by consumers is extremely high when compared to physical...

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Author: mbourdase - Published: Nov 30, 2017

America’s Frontline Physicians Oppose Efforts to Eliminate the Individual Mandate

Washington (November 16, 2017) – Our organizations, which represent more than 560,000 physicians and medical students, strongly support policies that ensure every American has access to affordable health coverage. We are concerned that a proposed provision in the Senate tax reform legislation to repeal the individual mandate is inconsistent with our goals.

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that repeal of the individual mandate will result in 13 million people becoming uninsured by 2027. Furthermore, repealing the mandate will increase premiums and destabilize the individual and small group markets.

Our members are the nation’s frontline physicians, providing care to individuals and families in communities large and small, urban and rural. They see each day the inherent value of having health...

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Author: mbourdase - Published: Nov 16, 2017

Access to Mental Health Care Has Increased Under the Affordable Care Act

ARLINGTON, Va. – People with mental illness reported that they were more likely to be insured and thus better able to access health and mental health services following implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), according to a new study published online today in Psychiatric Services in Advance. Effects were seen in states that had expanded Medicaid and in states that did not.

Researchers lead by Kathleen C. Thomas, Ph.D., with the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, examined the impact of health reform for people with mental illness. They used the Health Reform Monitoring Survey to examine health insurance, access to care, and employment for more than 1,500 people with mental health conditions pre- and post-implementation of ACA. They compared survey results from 2013, before ACA implementation (...

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Author: mbourdase - Published: Nov 15, 2017

APA Urges Congress to Reject Latest Proposal to Remove Mandate in Affordable Care Act

ARLINGTON, Va. — Following today’s announcement that the Senate version of the tax bill contains an amendment revoking the individual mandate of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the American Psychiatric Association (APA) released the following statement from APA CEO and Medical Director Saul Levin, M.D., M.P.A.:

“We are deeply disappointed that some members of Congress are attempting yet again to dismantle the Affordable Care Act. Removal of the individual mandate as part of a tax bill will mean that 13 million Americans will lose their health insurance by 2027. We call upon Congress to write comprehensive health care legislation, debated through our legislative process, that doesn’t harm the nation and keeps the promise that no one, including those with mental health or substance use disorders, will be at risk of...

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Author: mbourdase - Published: Nov 14, 2017

APA Extends Sympathy to Victims of Texas Church Shooting; Decries Link to Mental Health

ARLINGTON, Va. — Today the American Psychiatric Association (APA) issued the following statement from its CEO and Medical Director, Saul Levin, M.D., M.P.A., in reaction to the deadly shooting in Texas that claimed the lives of 26 Americans and injured 20 more:

“We are deeply saddened by the senseless violence in a house of worship this weekend. We extend our deepest sympathies to the victims, the families, and the community of this tragedy. The president and lawmakers have made comments associating acts of violence with mental illness. Research has consistently shown that people with mental illness are not more likely to be perpetrators of violence, but more likely to be victims. If lawmakers believe it is a mental health issue why are they not seeking to ensure that more resources are being put into treating...

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Author: mbourdase - Published: Nov 7, 2017

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