Federal News & Issues

Comprehensive Mental Health Reform Legislation Poised to Move Forward in the House: APA Encourages Passage

ARLINGTON, Va. – Today, on the eve of a critical vote, the American Psychiatric Association encourages members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee to pass the bipartisan mental health reform legislation. The committee is scheduled to consider the landmark legislation, H.R. 2646, Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act, on Wednesday, June 15.

The Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act was introduced by Rep. Tim Murphy (R-Pa.) with Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas) in June 2015 and now has 191 cosponsors. The House Subcommittee on Health passed the legislation last November.

“This legislation will bring much-needed improvements to the nation’s mental health system – and better access to quality care for people with mental illness, including substance use disorders,” said APA President...

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Author: mbourdase - Published: Jun 15, 2016

Physician Groups Representing 426,000 Doctors: Gun Violence MUST STOP

The American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Physicians, the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Psychiatric Association offer our sincere condolences to the victims of the Orlando shootings, their families, and the Orlando community.

These unspeakable acts highlight gun violence as a grim and increasing public health epidemic that kills approximately 91 Americans every day. THIS MUST STOP.

Our organizations and many others have called on Congress to...

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Author: mbourdase - Published: Jun 15, 2016

APA Extends Sympathy to Victims of Orlando Nightclub Shooting

ARLINGTON, Va. – Today the American Psychiatric Association issued the following statement from its president, Maria A. Oquendo,M.D., in reaction to the deadly shooting in Orlando that claimed the lives of more than 50 Americans:

“We are deeply saddened by the senseless violence in Orlando this weekend. The notion that the potential motive for targeting the patrons of this nightclub was because of their sexual orientation is disturbing. Regrettably, the carnage in Orlando is all too familiar and reminds of similar incidents in Newtown, Ct.; Blacksburg, Va.; and San Bernardino, Ca.; and too many other places in America. We offer our deepest sympathy and condolences to the victims and their families. The APA is a healing organization and our members will be there to help the community of Orlando heal.”

The...

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Author: mbourdase - Published: Jun 12, 2016

Medication to Treat Opioid Abuse Vastly Underused; About 1 out of 5 Patients Continue to Access Opioids after Discharge from Opioid Use Disorder Inpatient Treatment

ARLINGTON, Va. – A data analyses of U.S. patients who had an opioid-related inpatient hospitalization showed that less than 17 percent received FDA-approved medication for opioid use disorder in the 30 days after discharge. In addition, 22 percent filled an opioid painkiller prescription during the same period. The research is published online today in Psychiatric Services in Advance.

Researchers, led by Sarah Naeger, Ph.D., M.P.H., with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), studied prescription data on more than 35,000 people ages 18 to 64 who had been hospitalized for opioid abuse, dependence, or overdose between 2010 and 2014. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved three medications...

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Author: mbourdase - Published: Jun 1, 2016

Daniel Anzia Assumes Post as APA Assembly Speaker

ARLINGTON, Va. – At the close of the APA Annual Meeting on May 18 in Atlanta, Daniel Anzia, M.D., assumed the role of Speaker of the American Psychiatric Association (APA) Assembly of District Branches.

Anzia is psychiatry department chair at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, Park Ridge, Ill., and Associate Professor at the Chicago Medical School of Rosalind Franklin University. He is a Distinguished Life Fellow of the APA and a past president of the Illinois Psychiatric Society. Anzia completed medical school at Stanford University and his psychiatry residency at Loyola University of Chicago.

“The Assembly is highly energized and focused on the needs of our APA members and our patients,” Anzia said. “We’re working more smoothly together with the Board of Trustees and the Councils. Alongside the usual...

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Author: mbourdase - Published: May 19, 2016

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