July 2008

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE REPORT

By Cheryl Bowers, Ph.D.
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831-430-0100

As this newsletter goes to press there is some very good news for those of us working in the field of mental health and for the patients we serve. But before I share the news, let me begin by saying as the new Government Affairs Representative I have finally been able to get answers to my questions about why I pay APA dues and CPA dues and MBPA dues. The short answer is, because the principle goal of these professional organizations is to keep the profession of psychology a viable entity. If you should allow yourselves to become complacent (as I have in the past) rest assured, there are folks who would be happy for you to work harder, earn less, and have less decision-making options. And they knock on the doors of our governmental representatives every week. We have to make our presence known, our professional services valued, and our voices heard. That means you (and me). When you receive those requests to send in a letter or an email or make a call, believe me your opinions and efforts absolutely do make a difference.

In April of this year several of us from MBPA, along with GAC representatives from across California spent an afternoon speaking directly with our state senators and representatives. They were well informed on some issues that touch directly on our day-to-day professional lives (several shared stories of friends and family members who had directly benefited from psychological interventions) but in other instances not only unaware but misinformed. They were grateful to hear our comments, they took notes, and they asked excellent questions. Further, they sometimes shared their opinions and the way they would likely vote on the issues we discussed, with the obvious invitation to help in shaping that opinion. We count paychecks they count votes. In MBPA voting precinct we have 230 licensed psychologists. Was your voice heard on any of the following issues?

At the national level…

HR 6331 (Medicare Improvement for Patients and Providers Act of 2008) the Senate ended the filibuster and passed this piece of legislation that had already passed the House of Representatives. This will restore for 18 months $45 million to psychotherapy and related services cut as a result of the five-year review, halt the 10.6% Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) cut, provide a 1.1% update for 2009, and phase in Medicare coinsurance. President Bush had threatened to veto the measure. The veto was overridden in a landslide!!

A-08 (American Medical Association House of Delegates Resolution 303 Restricted Use of the Titles “Doctor,” “Resident,” and “Residency”). Seeks to restrict the title of “doctor,” “resident,” and “residency” in medical settings to apply only to physicians, dentists, and podiatrists.

S. 1693 (Wired for Health Care Quality Act) This bill is designed to encourage the development of Health Information Technology (HIT) in the health care system [i.e., national electronic health records system]. While there are many advantages in moving toward a paperless process and allowing for comprehensive management of health-related information there are major risks (i.e., intentional or negligent disclosure on a massive scale causing a serious loss to privacy). There are important improvements being introduced (Senator Leahy D-VT) but not nearly enough to protect the highly sensitive information associated with mental health records.

At the state level…

SB 1553 (Lowenthal Managed Care Reform Bill) This bill seeks to deliver on the promise of mental health parity in California by ensuring access to mental health services for the millions of consumers enrolled in an HMO. This bill has now passed the Senate. It was sponsored by CPA (among others) as a part of our April lobby day (see above). Advocacy works!

SB 1427 (Calderon – Prescriptive Authority for CA Psychologists). While CPA is strongly in favor of prescription privileges for psychologists in CA, there are grave concerns regarding this bill, which proposed a nurse practitioner model in which physicians would supervise psychologists.

AB 1951 (Hayashi – Mandated Suicide Prevention Continuing Education Bill) The outcome of this bill represents another victory for CPA when psychologists were amended out of this bill, which would have mandated 6 hours of CE course in suicide prevention. While clearly a critical area of knowledge, the bill had made no distinction between psychologists and other mental health practitioners and the Author of the bill was satisfied that the doctoral education provided sufficient training.

AB1486 (Calderon) seeks to establish a licensing and regulation of “Professional Counselors by the Board of Behavioral Sciences.”This is a scope of practice concern with protection of the public consumer at its core. While CPA is not opposed to counselor licensure, this bill is very lenient and would allow counselors at the Master’s Degree level to provide all services that are currently restricted to the PhD psychologist level, including all aspects of assessment and diagnosis. This bill is currently in committee and the first hearing has been cancelled at the request of the author (Calderon). CPA opposes this bill.

QUICK QUIZ:

WHO ARE YOUR STATE LEGISTLATIVE REPRESENTATIVES? GIVE YOURSELF HIGH MARKS IF YOU CAN NAME TWO AND OUTSTANDING MARKS IF YOU CAN NAME THREE. IF YOU CAN NAME NONE—REREAD THE ABOVE LEGISLTATIVE ISSUES AND THEN GET BUSY.

SENATE:

Abel Maldonado
590 Calle Principal Suite 100
Monterey, CA 93940
831-657-6315

100 Paseo de San Antonio Suite 206
San Jose, CA 95113
408-277-9461

State Capital #4082
Sacramento, CA 94248
916-651-4015

ASSEMBLY:

John Laird
701 Ocean St. #318B
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
831-425-1503

State Capital #6026
Sacramento, CA 94249
916-319-2027

Anna Caballero
100 W. Alisal St. Suite 134
Salinas, CA 93901
831-759-8676

State Capital #5119
Sacramento, CA 94249
916-319-2028

Remember—no elected official can survive without voters. Your voice matters and your vote counts. CPA and MBPA make it easier for you to make your opinions heard through sample letters that can be easily downloaded through the CPA website or though the periodic mailings we send as a part of a legislative alert. If you do not receive a legislative alert, contact Cheryl Bowers at 831-430-0100 for assistance.

Cheryl Bowers, Ph.D.
Neuropsychologist
Clinical Psychology License #Psy 16211
Certified Rehabilitation Counselor #14460