By Saul Levin, MD, MPA, FRCP-E, FRCPsych
CEO and Medical Director
American Psychiatric Association
Washington, DC
- Technology has made it easier to connect with colleagues across the globe.
- Collaboration is an important part of the future of our profession.
- Offers new perspectives on the unique issues that affect us locally and collaborate on the broad issues that affect all of Psychiatry.
- These principles also apply to APA and our District Branches.
- It is critical that we maintain close contact with our DBs as they are our eyes and ears when state and local issues arise, and in turn we are their voice on a national level and offer support when needed.
- IMGs are crucial to Psychiatry’s present and future in America.
- Around 30% of all Psychiatrists in the US are IMGs.
- IMGs often work in rural/underserved communities that lack access.
- IMGs sometimes are better able to relate to patients due to shared ethnic/cultural backgrounds.
- IMG integration and support is a priority for the APA.
- RESOURCE: Navigating Psychiatry Residency in the United States Guide on PSYCH.ORG
- In fact, the recipient of the 2023 George Tarjan award is a member of the PSV, Dr. Anthony Fernandez, who is the chair for the caucus of IMG Psychiatrists.
- This award is presented to a Physician who has made an extraordinary contribution to IMG integration into the American Healthcare System.
- We need to refocus the conversation around mental health.
- View mental illness as just another illness, like high cholesterol/hypertension, etc.
- Move away from the negative side of mental health and begin to change people’s minds.
- Highlight the advances the profession is making in medications and different modes of treatment.
- Follow the lead of the younger generations (millennials, GenZ) who openly talk about them in a positive and therapeutic exercise.
- A major part of improving mental health in a changing healthcare landscape is addressing this need to better socialize mental health.
- At the APA Annual Meeting in San Francisco, the APA Foundation will launch a public awareness campaign to reinforce this messaging.
- This multimedia and multi-faceted campaign will highlight Psychiatry’s role, the importance of caring for your mental health, emphasize that mental illness is treatable, and encourage those in need to speak to their physician.
- Primary audience will be potential patients.
- Target outreach in a few key markets across the US Later this year.
- Working with award-winning PR firm Finn Partners.
- Grand Challenge/Huntsman Institute: Working with mental health initiatives/ organizations, our goal is to create a movement to socialize mental health in the US.
- APA is committed to improving access to mental health and substance services.
- Since 2015, APA has trained 3,649 Psychiatrists and hundreds (380) of primary care physicians in the Collaborative Care Model (COCM) and encouraged implementation in practice.
- The Collaborative Care Model has a proven evidence base for an innovation care delivery system where Psychiatrists work as a part of a team dedicated to a patient’s total health.
- It is the only model with a clear evidence base and has been tested in more than 100 randomized controlled trials and approved by CMMC.
- Collaborating with PCP’s and other non-physician health care workers is key as we work to meet the demand for care and address the physician shortage in the US.
- APA is looking to train future Psychiatrists and primary care physicians in the Collaborative Care Model and will be hosting a conference in Washington, DC from April 24-25 for Psychiatry and primary care residency programs on how to teach the Collaborative Care Model in training programs.
- Further resources on the Collaborative Care Model, including training modules for Psychiatrists, PCPs and behavioral health care managers, are available on Psychiatry.org
- APA’s work has an eye to health equity and reaching underserved communities.
- One recent highlight is LASALUDMENTAL.ORG, launched last year:
- Crucial to connect with communities in a culturally relevant way;
- Spanish language site for evidence-based mental health information;
- New content created by Spanish speaking APA members; and
- Includes physician resources and animated physician videos aimed at a broad audience.
- APA is the voice of American Psychiatry on the national stage, (Congress and the Administration) and thru the DB’s state and local teamwork.
- Important that members feel empowered to affect change in their communities.
- Big societal change starts small.
- New generations of Psychiatrists must be adept at advocacy and engaging with lawmakers and the public on complex issues around mental health.
- APA is here to help with training and events:
- State and Federal advocacy conferences; and
- APA members learn effective strategies for advocacy.
- Join us at the Federal Advocacy Conference this October 15-17 in Washington, DC.
- In December, Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) of 2023 that included significant funding of critical mental health and SUD programs and support for numerous APA legislative priorities for the APA including:
- 100 more Psychiatry match slots by 2026;
- We got half of the allotment for the 200 slots. The first time we are being recognized as important by Congress and the Nation;
- Funding & support for Collaborative Care Model (COCM);
- Telehealth flexibility;
- Parity enforcement; and
- 5-year reauthorization of SAMHSA Minority Fellowship Program.
- A split and narrowly divided Congress is likely to limit opportunities to advance large legislative initiatives during the new 118th Congress. The states now become more important to pass legislation.
- APA will seek to build on successes from the omnibus package, and advocate for more progress on things like:
- Support for 988 and other crisis services, expansion of telehealth, and legislation aimed at promoting health equity.
- The funding provisions in the omnibus are a good first step, but much work remains to be done.
- APA relies on our DBs and the expertise of our members to help support our advocacy efforts at the state level.
- It is one thing for lawmakers to hear from a national association, but often testimony from a local physician can be more impactful when advocating to leaders in their home state.
- PSV enjoyed many wins in the 2023 session:
- 5% increase to Medicaid reimbursement rates for Psychiatric care and parity of mental health and substance use rates;
- $230 million proposed spending on crisis services, which includes $20 million for 34 new mobile crisis units, $58 million to increase the number of crisis receiving centers and crisis stabilization units statewide, $9 million to expand tele-behavioral health services in public schools and on college campuses and $9 million for transportation and in-hospital monitoring by law enforcement and other personnel; and
- HB 1573 was signed into law. It eliminates stigmatizing mental health questions from medical licensure applications.
- PSV day at the Capitol was held February 13
- Members met with 6 legislators to discuss PSV’s budget priorities and educate them on members’ lived experiences treating patients.
- Also met with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to discuss how PSV can continue contributing to the administration’s response to the mental health crisis.
- Shared information on collaborative care and will have ongoing conversations beyond the legislative session.
- Members met with 6 legislators to discuss PSV’s budget priorities and educate them on members’ lived experiences treating patients.
- PSV defeated harmful bills:
- HB 1389, which attempted to limit minor patients’ consent to mental health care, was defeated in a senate subcommittee, thanks in large part to Dr. Sherin Moideen (PSV Past President) and Dr. Bela Sood’s excellent testimony;
- Defeated HB 1923, which similarly attempted to curb minors’ ability to consent to inpatient mental health treatment; and
- Behavioral Health Commission will study the matter further.
- With new members of Congress in the Virginia delegation, as well as a senate race in 2024, Virginia’s Psychiatrists have an important role to play in promoting Psychiatry and access to mental health and SUD care.
- We need to match APA member Psychiatrists with every member of Congress, so our members can build the relationships that help advance our agenda.
- With more than 85 new members of the house, APA is working to connect those new members with constituents of theirs in Psychiatry.
- We encourage you to join our Congressional advocacy network.
- Our government relations department will work with you every step of the way on strategies to connect with your congressmen and women and your Senators.
- This work is fulfilling and rewarding.
- You can reach out to DGR through our website or by emailing [email protected] and have a conversation about the opportunities available to you, which do not have to take too much of your time.
- You also have Senator Tim Kaine, who has been a very strong supporter of Psychiatry and Physicians overall.
- He authored the Lorna Breen Act which passed the Congress and aids Physician well-being after the tragic suicide of Dr. Lorna Breen, a Virginia emergency Physician who died by suicide during COVID when she feared her career was going to be destroyed because she had needed to seek Psychiatric help.
- I encourage you to think about ways you might get engaged politically through APAPAC to recognize the Senator’s important efforts.
- For example, you could team up together and with others in the Physician community to hold a political event in the Senator’s honor with contributions from APA member Psychiatrists and APAPAC.
- This is also something our DGR staff can help with.
- I hope you will make your contribution to APAPAC this year to help ensure we have the resources to support Congressional champions like Senator Kaine who APAPAC has already contributed $10,000 for his upcoming 2024 election.
- Dr. Rasmany Viswanathan has won the race for APA President-Elect and will begin in that role when Dr. Petros Levounis assumes the Presidency at the conclusion of the Annual Meeting in May.
- This is a testament to the changing organization and the changing face of Psychiatry.
- Our membership is becoming younger and more diverse, and APA will lean into and support this change.
- Join us in San Francisco May 20-24 for the APA Annual Meeting.
- THEME: Innovate, Collaborate, Motivate: Charting the Future of Mental Health
- This theme is especially timely as embracing innovation and building lasting partnerships in and outside of Psychiatry are both key to the future of our profession.
- Thousands of Psychiatrists, both APA members and non-members from all over the world attend to:
- Exchange knowledge and ideas;
- Network;
- Attend, 600 sessions/courses and view over 1000 posters;
- Earn up to 43 AMA CME credits; and
- Non-Physicians are encouraged to attend.
- Groundbreaking work & new research put on display.
- Together, we can change the face of, and increase both the impact and influence of Psychiatry across the changing demographics of APA and the nation.
- Together we are stronger.
