Federal News & Issues

Dec 21, 2017

ARLINGTON, Va. — Today, Congress authorized a temporary extension of funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which expired on Sept. 30. This stopgap measure only funds the program through the end of March. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) has called for Congress to reauthorize the program for five years.

“We are relieved that states will have temporary funding for children’s health insurance, but Congress must pass a long-term reauthorization of CHIP,” said APA CEO and Medical Director Saul Levin, M.D., M.P.A. “Nearly nine million children receive health care thanks to this program, including approximately 850,000 with serious behavioral or emotional disorders. CHIP is vital to keeping our nation’s children healthy and strong. We urge Congress to act with all possible speed to pass a...

Dec 15, 2017

Washington, DC — The American Psychiatric Association (APA) and National Council for Behavioral Health commend the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration for its report, released yesterday by the federal Interdepartmental Serious Mental Illness Coordinating Committee (ISMICC). The report acknowledged that the health care system has failed to meet the needs of adults with serious mental illnesses and children with serious emotional disturbances, and outlined areas to help address this failure.

Based on initial deliberations, the ISMICC’s areas of focus include making it easier to access care, closing the gap between treatment that works and what is offered, and developing financing strategies that increase availability and affordability of care.

The APA and National Council call on the...