2015

SENATE DELAYS VOTE ON SGR FIX AFTER HOUSE PASSES BIPARTISAN BILL

By editor
March 27, 2015

By a sizable majority, the House yesterday approved a bill to repeal Medicare’s sustainable growth rate formula. Coverage portrays the vote as a rare bipartisan victory for Congress and a win for both House Speaker Boehner and Minority Leader Pelosi. However, the AP(3/27) is reporting this morning that the Senate “has delayed giving final congressional approval...   read more


Congress to Repeal the Sustainable Growth Rate

By editor
March 20, 2015

  This is not a test. Repeat: This is not a test. Serious movement is underway in Congress to permanently repeal the sustainable growth rate (SGR) before theMarch 31 deadline; repeal legislation, H.R. 1470/S. 810 is expected on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives next week. With so few legislative days left before the deadline,...   read more


First Lady, APF, Broad Coalition Pledge to 'Change Direction' of U.S. MH Dialogu

By editor
March 7, 2015

“It is time to tell everyone who is dealing with a mental health issue in this country that they are not alone and that getting support and treatment isn’t a sign of weakness--it’s a sign of strength,” First Lady Michelle Obama told 500 mental health leaders and advocates at the launch in Washington, D.C., of the “Change Direction”...   read more


APA Praises Sens. Grassley, Brown for Bill to Protect Part D Coverage of Needed Mental Health Drugs

By editor
March 7, 2015

APA Praises Sens. Grassley, Brown for Bill to Protect Part D Coverage of Needed Mental Health Drugs ARLINGTON, Va. – Today the American Psychiatric Association (APA) endorsed new Senate legislation that would require Medicare Part D plans to provide robust coverage for six classes of medications, including drugs needed to treat depression and schizophrenia. The...   read more


President Obama Signs Key Veterans' Mental Health Law

By editor
February 12, 2015

President Obama Signs Key Veterans' Mental HealthLaw President Barack Obama today signed into law the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans (SAV) Act, intended to reduce suicide and improve access to mental health care for veterans. The bill had been passed unanimously by the House and Senate.  “Too many of our troops and veterans...   read more


Preventing Suicides Among Veterans Is at Center of Bill Passed by Senate

By editor
February 4, 2015

As a Marine serving in Iraq, Clay Hunt barely missed being killed by a sniper, yet he faced what proved to be more powerful foes after leaving the corps: depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. https://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/04/us/bill-aimed-at-improving-mental-health-treatment-for-veterans-passes-senate.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=second-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=1


deadline for physicians to opt out of new United HealthCare Medi-Cal managed care network

By editor
January 13, 2015

The 30-day window for physicians in San Diego and Sacramento counties wishing to opt out of United Healthcare’s new Medi-Cal managed care network, called United Healthcare Community Plan, is approaching. Affected physicians in these two counties were notified by United Healthcare in December that they are being automatically opted into the Community Plan and rates...   read more