Federal News & Issues

APA Praises Senate Approval of Mental Health Reform Bill

ARLINGTON, Va. Dec. 7, 2016 – The American Psychiatric Association (APA) applauds the U.S. Senate for passing the 21st Century Cures Act, far-reaching legislation with numerous provisions intended to reform and improve the nation’s mental health care system. The legislation was approved by the House on Nov. 30 and now heads to President Obama for his anticipated signature.

“This long-awaited and much needed mental health reform will help to increase access to care and improve the quality of care for people with mental health and substance use disorders, especially for the 13 million Americans living with serious mental illness,” said APA President Maria A. Oquendo, M.D., Ph.D. “The bill will toughen enforcement of existing parity laws, helping to ensure that mental health care services are covered just like other...

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Author: mbourdase - Published: Dec 7, 2016

APA Commends House for Approving Mental Health Reform Bill

ARLINGTON, Va. Nov. 30, 2016 – The American Psychiatric Association (APA) praises the U.S. House of Representatives for voting today to approve the 21st Century Cures Act, sweeping legislation that includes numerous provisions to reform the nation’s mental health care system.

“This legislation will greatly benefit our patients with mental illness and substance use disorders,” said APA President Maria A. Oquendo, M.D., Ph.D. “The bill strengthens existing parity laws so that mental illness is treated just like any other illness and it better coordinates the efforts of federal agencies responsible for treating mental illness. This marks the passage of the first mental health reform bill in more than 50 years and is long overdue.”

The 21st Century Cures bill included provisions long championed by Reps. Tim...

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Author: mbourdase - Published: Dec 1, 2016

APA Welcomes Surgeon General’s Report on Addiction, Pledges to Work to Address Epidemic

ARLINGTON, Va. Nov. 17, 2016 – Today the American Psychiatric Association (APA) praised the release of a new report by U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy that draws attention to the current drug and alcohol addiction public health crisis, highlights proven treatments and calls for collective coordinated action.

“We are encouraged by the focus on the nationwide substance use epidemic and the many ways we can collectively work to address it,” said APA President Maria A. Oquendo, M.D., Ph.D. “The disease of addiction affects people from all backgrounds across our society and we have the knowledge and tools to provide effective treatment.”

“It is important to have effective policies and programs to help prevent alcohol and drug misuse as well as make addiction care both more acceptable, and more accessible to...

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Author: mbourdase - Published: Nov 17, 2016

APA Congratulates President-Elect Donald Trump on Winning the Election; Pledges to Work With New Administration

ARLINGTON, Va. Nov. 9, 2016 — The American Psychiatric Association (APA) offers its congratulations to President-Elect Donald Trump for his successful election to President of the United States.

"We welcome the opportunity to work with President-Elect Trump and the Republican Party on improving mental health in this country," said APA President Maria A. Oquendo, M.D., Ph.D. "Mental health is a bipartisan issue that affects millions of Americans from all walks of life, and we pledge to work with President-Elect Trump’s administration to ensure those Americans get the care they need."

The American Psychiatric Association is a national medical specialty society whose more than 36,500 physician members specialize in the diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and research of mental illnesses, including substance use...

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Author: mbourdase - Published: Nov 9, 2016

APA Announces New Mental Health Registry PsychPRO

ARLINGTON, Va. Nov. 8, 2016 — Today, the American Psychiatric Association announced the launch of PsychPRO, a national mental health registry that will help psychiatrists deliver high quality care and meet new MACRA quality reporting requirements by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, (CMS). PsychPRO will spur future research and develop better ways to treat and prevent psychiatric illnesses.

The APA is also announcing that Sheppard Pratt Health System in Baltimore, Maryland, the largest private, nonprofit provider of mental health and substance use services in the U.S., has become the first major health system to join PsychPRO (Psychiatric Patient Registry Online).

A clinical registry is a system that helps providers easily collect and submit quality reports; in addition, it gives patients a...

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Author: mbourdase - Published: Nov 8, 2016

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