Minds Online

State Budget Cuts

2009-09-09T18:11:00Z

How are your state mental health programs being affected by state budget cuts?...(read more)

Health Reform: Public Plan Options

2009-06-15T16:48:00Z

A key piece of the health reform debate in Congress will focus on how to provide health insurance to the un- and under-insured. Senate Democrats propose to establish what amounts to an insurance exchange where those with no coverage -- or those who do not like the coverage they have -- could shop for plans that meet federal standards. As presently proposed, these qualified health plans would pay for physicians' services at a rate capped at Medicare's payment rate plus 10 percent. Physicians...(read more)

Health Care Reform

2009-02-06T18:50:00Z

President Obama and Congressional leaders are promoting health care reform, including health care coverage, as a major goal for 2009. With some 46 million Americans uninsured and millions more underinsured, how do you think our elected leaders can best address the nation's health care needs?...(read more)

Ban Urged on Gifts at Medical Schools

2008-05-02T17:37:00Z

The Association of American Medical Colleges has proposed new rules that would prohibit pharmaceutical and device manufacturers from offering gifts, products, and other common relationships and services to all U.S. medical schools. Where’s the line between acceptance of contributions/resources that provide much-needed assistance to strapped medical school budgets, and undue -- though perhaps subtle -- influence on medical decision-making?

Attached below is the Report of the AAMC Task Force on Industry Funding of Medical Education to the AAMC Executive Council.

View the report here...

Private Practice Concerns

2008-05-02T17:34:00Z

What’s your primary concern relative to your practice?

Paul Wellstone Mental Health & Addiction Equity Act of 2007 (H.R.1424)

2008-03-03T21:55:00Z

“The House version of mental health parity legislation, the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act of 2007 (H.R. 1424), is expected to come before the House for a vote on Wednesday, March 5. How do you think passage of a comprehensive mental health parity bill would influence your practice and our profession as a whole?”

Click to view Parity Fact Sheet

TRICARE: Question One

2008-02-08T16:14:00Z

We’ve learned from our personnel returning from Afghanistan and Iraq that they and their families need better access to TRICARE services provided by all mental health professionals, including psychiatrists. A 2007 DOD study rank-ordered physician specialties about their willingness to accept new TRICARE patients:

Click to view:

Click HERE for the full PDF report.

You can see that at least in comparison with other medical specialties, psychiatrists surveyed were the least aware and the least likely to accept new TRICARE patients. Members of Congress are interested in improving access to care for returning personnel and would like to know the specific reasons psychiatrists do not accept as many TRICARE patients. Please help us better understand how APA members relate to the TRICARE system by answering the following questions:

Do you currently treat patients covered by TRICARE?
If so, what percentage of your total patient base isTRICARE patients?
Are you currently willing to take on new or additional TRICARE patients?
If you are not willing or able, please help us understand why.