AACP Committee Report Form

May 19, 2007

Committee: Program

Members Present: Rush, Kovasznay, Everett, Pollack, Sowers, Roskes, Jewell

Agenda Items:

1. 2007 APA Mtg Presentation

Symposium submitted on IOM, NAMI, Study to Action reports, entitled “The IOM informs, NAMI storms, and AACP transforms: How to make the grade in response to the US mental health system’s bad report card.” Overviews of the IOM report by Harold Pincus, NAMI Scorecard by Ken Duckworth, Study to Action report by Allen Daniels, with summary of AACP products and position papers that respond to the report recommendations by Wes Sowers. Discussants Pedro Ruiz and Wilma Townsend.

2. 2007 IPS Mtg, New Orleans. Scientific Program Committee has met and selected a broad range of symposia, workshops, and innovative programs, many of which were submitted by AACP members.

3. 2008 Winter Mtg. Brooklyn, organized by Steve Goldfinger. Need to find out what topics and presenters he is considering.

4. 2008 APA Mtg., Washington, DC.

Preliminary discussion of topics that were developed at the winter mtg:

· Take advantage of the DC location to tap into some of the advocacy leaders in DC (e.g., govt. relations reps from the major MH advocacy groups) to have a forum on advocacy re public MH policy issues.

· Major policy issues: Impact of DRA (Medicaid deconstruction) and/or universal coverage schemes

· Emphasize the need for psychiatrists to be more directly aware of and involved in policy issues at the state level.

· Forum or debate on behavioral health related evidence-based practices

· Relevance/problems associated with understanding what and how psychiatrists in community settings do what they do. Is accepting some accountability (“time and motion”) requirements okay or have we sold ourselves “down the river”? How can accountability approaches actually and meaningfully capture/honor what we really do?

What emerged from the discussion was the possibility of having a symposium length forum inviting health advisors for each of the remaining Presidential candidates (as of May, 2008) to provide overview of the candidate’s health proposals with specific emphasis on public sector behavioral health (MH and addictions). This could/should be done with Nada Stotland’s endorsement (possibly a joint sponsorship btw/ APA and AACP) and supported by the APA’s Division on Government Relations. Invited reps from specific BH advocacy organizations could be the initial response panel, followed by Q&A from audience. DAP will pursue.

Electronic health records in community: Bring together some key national and organizational leaders in how EHRs are being developed and used in community-based MH programs, with emphasis on how psychiatric practice and records are being developed and whether psychiatric staff have input in their development. Still need someone to take coordination responsibility for this. Anita may be willing.

Program ideas generated by the Underserved/Diversity Committee: ???