Insight Matters
Spring, 2004

Heading into port
by Kenneth J. Miller, M.D., Chair, Government Relations Committee

Spring has always been a favorite sailing season of mine as it offers variable and testy wind conditions. This also appears to be the case with our legislative and advocacy issues, and I am thankful that we were able to have our Government Relations crew rotate duties and availability. As we head into port after what seems like a 'Whitbread Competition' (endurance sailing in unfavorable conditions), I want to thank all those who contributed to the committee by giving their time, knowledge, experience and resources to effect change in the legislative process this last year. Let me start with the Government Relations Committee members: Drs. Abromowitz, Hyacinthe, Kuehn, Locala, Kotcher, Lehrer and Thorward. Your input and actions on legislative advocacy as well as educating your local colleagues on our position greatly assisted in keeping our mission and message current and consistent.

'While at sea' and under weather storm watch … to the OPA members and officers that offered special assistance, Drs. Sokolov - HB 365 - waiver of privilege, Thorward - HB 225 - Insurance Parity, Lehrer - HB 357 - Guilty But Insane, Chase - SB 192 - Child Relinquishment: thank you for your extra efforts and availability to Janet Shaw and me. Our work could not have been accomplished without you. To our 'land support and regional navigation stations,' Drs. Munetz, Tolbert, Bensonhaver; "maps of guidance: Drs. Mulderig and Nizny - regional OPA coverage and representation at the Cincinnati Academy of Medicine and OSMA Annual meeting. To all the physicians involved in local advocacy action, NAMI, MHA, Coalition for Healthy Communities, etc., my personal respectful thanks for your ongoing efforts.

And now from the log of events since my last report. I was fortunate to acquire more political advocacy skills and knowledge after attending the Area IV Legislative Meeting in Chicago and Advocacy Day in Washington, D.C., in March. I was impressed by the diverse backgrounds and extensive depth of experience that our regional and national colleagues bring to the table. I believe that the APA, with its restructuring and current leadership, is doing a good job of harnessing that energy and resources to provide a focused attack on the issues facing psychiatry. We advocated for our positions on Medicare Parity and Reimbursement, keeping families together, SAMSHA reauthorization, Privacy and Genetic Testing, Psychologist Prescription Privileges, Tort Reform, and the Medical Liability Crisis.

Insurance Parity
Currently, the parity bill in Ohio, H.B. 225, which passed the House in February, has had its first hearing (sponsor testimony) in the Senate Insurance Committee. Various advocacy organizations are collaborating on how best to educate Ohio's Senators and Governor about the importance of this legislation. OPA is very involved. Dr. Thorward plans to testify again and OSMA is joining us in our message/mission. At the federal level, the President is being called to task on his promises to support moving the Congress to pass Parity.

Psychologist Prescribing
Efforts to ensure patient safety remains highly active through monitoring, education and advocacy at both the State and Federal level. With the recent passage of legislation in Louisiana granting prescriptive authority to some psychologists, it is more vital than ever that all of us get involved in the process. APA's newly formed Division of Advocacy has teamed up its Communication, Government Relations, and Health Care Financing Departments to assist and support all states challenged by this issue.

Child Relinquishment
Much local press, particularly in the Cincinnati area, spurred the introduction of S.B. 192, which would eliminate the requirement that parents relinquish custody of their children with severe mental illness in order to receive treatment from a public services agency. Our Government Relations Committee has recommended that child psychiatrists be among the mix in the planning and oversight functions of the bill. At this time, we have taken a neutral position as an interested party as we recognize that in some cases, extenuating circumstances may mean that relinquishment to the state is the better outcome placement for the child. The momentum of this passing could open the door on other parity issues. It was interesting to see how much enthusiasm and support a similar bill, "Keeping Families Together Act," is receiving at the federal level.

Confidentiality
We made some proactive gains in protecting physician-patient confidentiality on H.B. 365, to ensure protection of confidentiality of medical information (particularly mental health records) in probate cases. This bill, after much collaborative work between representatives of the Ohio Bar Association, Ohio Legal Rights, and the Ohio Psychiatric Association, was passed by the House and is moving on to the Senate. In working through the process, mutual respect was noted. A special thanks to Michael Kirkman for his efforts in hammering out mutually agreeable language with his colleague in the OBA.

Guilty But Insane
H.B. 357 is currently off our immediate radar screen thanks to the efforts of Dr. Lehrer and the OPA in developing a formal position statement reiterating the progress changes that have been made in our state's treatment of the mentally ill defendant through the Ohio Supreme Court Advisory Committee on the Mentally Ill in the Courts.

We continue to work with legislators to remedy language related to scope of practice for marriage and family therapists. And, we join our medical brethren in their fights on Tort Reform and the Medical Liability Crisis.

Before signing off, I would like to encourage all of you to stay involved in your local chapters and try to squeeze some time out to become involved in the OPA's committees. A rested crew prevents mishaps at sea. As we take on the next adventure in 2004-2005, I welcome your participation.

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