Watch the mail for your ballots for the 2010 OPPA election!
Ballots will be mailed to all voting members of the OPPA at the end of February. Meet the candidates for the offices of President-elect, Secretary and APA rep on pages 8-13 of the OPPA quarterly newsletter, Insight Matters, arriving on your desk within the next two weeks. Ballots must be returned postmarked no later than April 1, 2010!
_______________________________________________________________________
DSM-5 draft criteria available on-line for comment
The draft criteria for the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders is available online at www.dsm5.org. The site provides a forum to accept comment on proposed changes. Comments will be accepted through April 20.
_______________________________________________________________________
Are you eligible for Distinguished Fellowship?
In early 2010, the OPPA will be notifying those General Members or Fellows who have been members for eight years that they are eligible to be nominated for APA Distinguished Fellow. This is a national honor awarded by the APA to psychiatrists who have made and continue to make significant contributions to the profession and the community. _______________________________________________________________________
ODJFS moves forward to carve-out pharmacy benefits
Beginning with date of service Feb. 1, 2010, prescription drug coverage for members of Medicaid Managed Care Plans (MCPs) transferred back to the Medicaid fee-for-service (FFS) program. This change means that all Medicaid patients will have the same list of covered drugs and same prior authorization policy. Medicaid MCPs are no longer responsible for prescription drug coverage for their members. Additional information is available in Medical Assistance Letter (MAL) 561, available by clicking on this link.
_______________________________________________________________________
ODRC limits mental health formularyThe Dept. of Corrections made changes to its pharmacy benefits plan that significantly impacts incarcerated individuals with mental illnesses. Effective Oct. 1, 2009, brand name psychotropic medications were removed from the formulary now requiring a Requuest for Medications Approval form (prior authorization) be obtained for use of Abilify, Geodon, Cymbalta and Effexor XR. Members who experience problems or delays in individuals not receiving the most appropriate medication in a timely fashion are encouraged to contact the OPPA!