News briefs you may have missed . . .
ODMH Cost Containment FAQ's Part II
State Medical Board of Ohio FAQs on Operating a Pain Clinic
APA Primer for Psychiatrists on Health Care Reform
ODMH Annual Report - 2011
ODADAS Annual Report - 2011
ODMH Cost Containment FAQ's Part I
State Medical Board: Grand Rounds - Special Issue HB 93 and Pain Management
Glossary of Health Policy Terms
Ohio Medicaid Basics 2011
ODMH News Release: State to consolidate Northcoast psychiatric hospitals
Report: By the Numbers Future of Ohio's Behavioral Healthcare System
Governor's Office of Health Transformation - sign up for e-mail updates!
A View From the ABPN
Part 1 of a Multi-part Series on Maintenance of Certification
Robert Ronis, MD, MPH
As the newest Psychiatry Director for the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN), I seem to be one again heeding the words of the Chinese proverb (or curse?) "May you live in interesting times." Indeed, as I assume this role, the Board is experiencing a number of transitions, including the phasing out of the traditional two-part exam with its anxiety provoking live-patient and vignette sections, and a more profound change related to Maintenance of Certification. Entire article available in the Spring 2010 issue of OPPA's quarterly publication, Insight Matters.
Regulations are Issued on Federal Parity Act
APA will continue to review
Herman Tolbert, MD
The Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Labor and the Department of the Treasury have issued regulations for implementation of the Wellstone and Dominici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008. The law applies to employers of 50 or more workers whose group health plan offers mental health or substance use disorder benefits. Entire article available in the Winter 2010 issue of OPPA's quarterly publication, Insight Matters.
Decline of Ohio's Mental Healthy System - An Illusion of Treatment
On Sunday, Oct. 24, 2010, the Columbus Dispatch ran a series of articles about the decline of Ohio's mental health system, including the front page article entitled, "An Illusion of Treatment." This series of articles does an excellent job of recapping the decline of Ohio's public mental health system and the sad consequences that many Ohioians now face. With the election just around the corner, OPPA members are encouraged to read the articles and then write letters to Gov. Ted Strickland and Republican candidate for Governor, Congressman Kasich and others running for election in Ohio. Let them know how the decisions that have been made have impacted your patients and that you expect they will help to fix the problems that exist today.
An illusion of treatment
1988 act worked well for a few years
Son's lonely ride through mental illness ends
Clients easily fall through safety net
We Need to Create a Culture of Activism Instead of Apathy
There are many opportunities to make an impact
Brooke Wolf, MD
Let's keep building the momentum to improve our healthcare system and achieve meaningful mental health parity! With national attention on healthcare reform, Ohio psychiatrists need to make certain mental health is not left behind. Formidable challenges remain in both the public and private systems in Ohio. Our ability to make headway depends on the energy and investement of OPPA members. The mentally ill wandering homeless in the streets or housed in jails instead of being treated in hospitals was once a description of their plight before modern medicine, but "once upon a time" is happening again. Entire article available in the Winter 2010 issue of OPPA's Insight Matters.
Pediatric Psychiatry Network is Launched
OPPDSN moves Ohio to the forefront
Marion Sherman, MD, ODMH Medical Director
Working collaboratively with partners in psychiatry, the Ohio Department of Mental Health has gathered with other physicians to create the Ohio Pediatric/Psychiatry Decision Support Network (OPPDSN), a technologically supported system of consultation, communication, quality improvement, and direct services designed to both increase access to child psychiatry consulation and triage for person-centered medical homes, primary care, and community mental health provider organizations, and to break down barriers to integrated care through system-linking technology used by a coordinated and competent decision support network. Entire article available in the Winter 2010 issue of OPPA's Insight Matters.
OPPA Officers Meet with Ohio Primary Care Groups
Benefits of collaboration are explored
In late Sept., OPPA President Brooke Wolf, MD, President-elect James Wasserman, MD and Executive Director, Janet Shaw, were invited to attend the quarterly meeting of the Ohio Coalition of Primary Care Physicians to discuss opportunities for potential collaboration. There was discussion about how psychiatrists can be of greater assistance to primary care physicians, how psychiatrists and primary care physicians can better collaborate for the benefit of patients who have a mental disorder, and how psychaitrists can be helpful in supporting the patient-centered medical home. Entire article available in the Fall 2009 issue of OPPA's Insight Matters.
Coverage Doesn't Mean Access
OPPA forms new coalition on managed care reform
Just prior to the start of the Spring 2009 OPPA meeting in Columbus, members of the OPPA Access to Care Task Force and staff hosted the first meeting of its newly formed coalition on managed care reform. Following introductory remarks by President Joe Locala, MD and Past President, Todd Ivan, MD, OPPA Executive Director led the three-hour roundtable discussion of the more than 20 representatives from statewide advocacy, provider and direct care agencies. The goal was to identify the top three concerns related to coverage decisions and other concerns related to dealing with managed care companies for mental health and/or substance use treatment services. Entire article available in the Spring 2009 issue of OPPA's Insight Matters.
OPPA Files Amicus Brief in Ohio Supreme Court
Confidentiality is paramount
Joseph A. Locala, MD
Case before the Court challenges the fundamental principle of confidentiality in patient care and also seeks to open the door for punitive damages in instances of violation of abuse-reporting statues. John and June Roe, the parents of Jane Roe, sued Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio Region and others in state court on behalf of themselves and as "next friends," of Jane Roe, a minor. They alleged that Planned Parenthood performed an abortion on Jane Roe, who was in eighth grade at the time, without notifying her parents and without getting their consent or informed consent from Jane Roe. They also alleged that Planned Parenthood did not report suspected child abuse. Entire article available in the Summer 2008 issue of OPPA's Insight Matters.
Dr. Munetz Recognized by Justice Stratton
3000+ CIT officers trained in Ohio
At the July 25, 2008 meeting of the Supreme Court of Ohio's Advisory Committee on Mental Illness and the Courts, Supreme Court Justice Mark Munetz, MD, was recognized and presented with an award by Justice Evelyn Lyndberg Stratton and Director Sandra Stepehenson, who stated that "if it were not for Mark's tremendous initial and ongoing efforts, none of this would have been possible." Entire article available in the Summer 2008 issue of OPPA's Insight Matters.
Celebrating Our New Name
Ohio Psychiatric Physicians Association
Henry A. Nasrallah, MD
On April 9, 2007, the Ohio Psychiatric Association (OPA), based on a landslide vote of members, changed its name to the Ohio Psychiatric Physicians Association (OPPA). This is an important milestone worthy of celebration and contemplation. We, OPPA members, were physicians before becoming psychiatrists. We then evolved from our noble tradition of healing the wounds of the body to mending ailing brains and anguished minds. Entire article available in the Spring 2007 issue of OPPA's Insight Matters.