APA directorate updates: May 2013

Division Dialogue | May 2013

APA directorate updates

These updates are provided as possible content for sharing in division newsletters, websites, mailing lists, social networking, etc.

For more information, contact Heather Miliman.

Health insurance exchanges under the Affordable Care Act
This article is the first in a series for psychologists about health insurance exchanges.
Tell federal agencies your parity concerns
The APA Practice Organization has submitted comments to the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Labor urging changes to the final rule on mental health parity to make it more enforceable and to address issues affecting patient access to needed psychological services.
NCQA’s Patient-Centered Specialty Practices coordinate care beyond the medical home
The APA Practice Directorate submitted comments during the development phase of the PCSP program supporting the goals of enhanced communication and coordination between specialist care and primary care providers, and recommended changes to ensure that psychologist-led practices, including small mental health practices, would be eligible to participate.

For more information, contact Kirk Waldroff.

APA approves guidelines for research by elementary and secondary school students
Guidelines help promote public understanding of psychology as a STEM discipline.
Congressional briefing highlights substance abuse research with military and veteran populations
APA and the Friends of NIDA coalition organize session on current scientific approaches to understanding and treating substance abuse among military personnel, veterans and families.
Federal budget for FY 2013 is finalized, FY 2014 budget process begins
Science agency budgets caught in debates about federal spending.

Politics, science and the suppression of research
Political interests have suppressed research on gun violence, depriving society of the tools needed to combat this pernicious problem.