Monitor on Psychology - November 2011 - (Page 47)

APA and psychologists across the country are working to ensure psychology’s place in the nation’s new health-care system. BY REB ECCA A. CLAY he passage of health-care reform last year was a great victory for psychologists and their patients. But the work is far from done. Now the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), state governments and others are working to flesh out the details of just how the law’s many provisions will work in practice. Some parts of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act have already taken effect, including some expanded access to insurance coverage, protections against insurance company abuses, new resources for prevention and efforts to improve data collection to reduce health disparities. But if all goes according to plan and the law survives the legal battles it has provoked, the health-care system will look very different by the time the Affordable Care Act is fully implemented in 2019. For instance, 32 million Americans who currently lack health insurance will have coverage. An expansion of Medicaid eligibility will extend coverage to 16 million new beneficiaries. New “exchanges” in each state will offer health insurance plans to individuals and small businesses and will include coverage for mental and substance use treatment services on par with medical and surgical services. The law also requires that all individuals buy insurance and that employers either offer coverage or face fines. The nature of health-care delivery will change, too. Healthcare reform emphasizes the integration of mental and physical health-care services, so psychologists who are prepared to collaborate with primary-care and other medical professionals will thrive. New structures — including patient-centered health homes and accountable care organizations (ACOs) — will spring up, with the potential for psychologists to become part of interdisciplinary teams. Payment mechanisms will change, too, with a shift from fee-for-service to models that reward N OV E M B E R 2 0 1 1 • M O N I TO R O N P S YC H O L O G Y T good outcomes, bundle payments or pay for episodes of care. The Affordable Care Act will bring new opportunities for psychologists, including a larger patient population, new funding for training and increased support for research. But psychologists must participate in the process of hammering out regulations or risk being left out, warn APA officials. To help psychologists avoid that fate, the new State Implementation of Health Care Reform Initiative of the APA Practice Organization (APAPO) will guide them through the process of getting involved as their states begin redesigning their Medicaid programs, creating their state exchanges and more. APA and APAPO are already working hard to ensure that psychology’s voice is heard. “We’re looking to promote the various roles of psychologists and clarify how the whole health-care system will benefit as a result of those roles,” says APA Senior Policy Advisor Ellen G. Garrison, PhD. Here’s a wrap-up of the key issues confronting psychology as the Affordable Care Act is implemented and how APA, APAPO and the state, provincial and territorial psychological associations (SPTAs) are working to address them. Integrating care One of APA’s top priorities in seeking health-care reform was the belief in the mind-body connection and the need for integrating patients’ physical, mental and behavioral health care. The Affordable Care Act reflects that vision by emphasizing primary care and interdisciplinary health-care teams. But now it’s time to make sure those redesigning healthcare delivery think of integrated care the same way APA does, says Katherine C. Nordal, PhD, executive director of APA’s Practice Directorate. Many health-care professionals don’t 47

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Monitor on Psychology - November 2011

Monitor on Psychology - November 2011
Letters
President’s Column
Contents
Guest Column
‘Grand Challenges’ offers blueprint for mental health research
Documentary seeks to reach parents of LGBT kids
Treating veterans will cost at least $5 billion by 2020
Selfless volunteering might lengthen your life
Combat and stress up among U.S. military in Afghanistan
South Africa to host international psychology conference
Study uncovers a reason behind sex differences in mental illness
Navy psychologist gives a voice to combat trauma
In Brief
Psychologist suicide
On Your Behalf
Journey back to Heart Mountain
Psychology is key to pain management, report finds
ACT goes international
Judicial Notebook
Random Sample
Time Capsule
Questionnaire
Science Watch
Behavior change in 15-minute sessions?
Health-care reform 2.0
Perspective on Practice
Giving a heads up on concussion
Practice Profile
Searching for meaning
Inspiring young researchers
Aging, with grace
Public Interest
Thank you!
APA News
Division Spotlight
American Psychological Foundation
The man who gave Head Start a start
Personalities

Monitor on Psychology - November 2011