There are two upcoming Eating Disorders Blue Ribbon Panels in MO.  Annie Seal, the coordinator, is still trying to find panelists for both markets.  The goal is to receive input from the community about eating disorders to consider having eating disorders as a covered health condition in Missouri.

Two MO Eating Disorders Blue Ribbon Panels titled "Let's Talk About It"  are scheduled for Warrensburg and Kansas City.  Panels will be conducted as round-table discussions on the various issues surrounding eating disorders.  If you have professional experience with eating disorders or have been personally affected, your voice is welcome. Please help us as as we strive to bring focus and attention to eating disorders.

July 25, Warrensburg, MO - 3:30pm - 5:00pm 
Johnson County Community Health Services - 723 PCA Road, Warrensburg, MO

July 26, Kansas City, MO - 9:30am - 12:00noon
Research Medical Center - 2316 East Meyer Blvd, Kansas City, MO

Please email Annie Seal at annieseal@sbcglobal.net to confirm your participation and let us know here at MOPA if you have reached out to Ms. Seal: CLICK HERE

I have been asked to participate in the Missouri Eating Disorders Blue Ribbon Panel as a means of further advancing the legislation that would mandate health care coverage for eating disorders, as well as promote education regarding eating disorders to the general public.  The BRP will be holding meetings across the state with various stakeholders beginning this June.  This represents another opportunity to bring the voice of psychology "to the table" and to be involved in discussions that could affect the practice of psychologists across the state.  

Richard P. Martielli, Ph.D., ABPP
President Missouri Psychological Association 

        Learn More about Eating Disorders by Visiting the National Eating Disorders Association Website

Dear members,

Please click the link below to send a message to Gov. Nixon asking him to support the creation of the Missouri Eating Disorder Council. This is another step to passing legislation mandating insurance coverage of eating disorders and another step in ensuring that Missourians suffering with this disorder get the care they deserve. 

http://www.capwiz.com/apapractice/mo/issues/alert/?alertid=61326181&



Thank you for your time and efforts,
Richard P. Martielli, Ph.D., ABPP
President Missouri Psychological Association 

Some updates for April
H&B CODES

• I've spoke with Kevin C. Smith, Ph.D. at the University of Missouri Kansas City and Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics - Kansas City regarding H&B codes as he has experience in trying to get reimbursed for these codes.
• I plan on talking to Stephen R. Gillaspy, Ph.D. from the Department of Pediatrics, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. Oklahoma has been successful in obtaining reimbursement through Medicaid for H&B codes. He co-authored an article on the subject that can be found here.
• I have a conference call scheduled with APAPO's Legal and Regulatory Affairs office to discuss strategy for getting these codes reimbursed by MO Health Net. 
• Here is a map with some of the states that already are able to get reimbursement for these codes through Medicaid.

EATING DISORDER BILL

• I met with Annie Seal from the Missouri Eating Disorders Association to discuss strategies for advancing HB1509 through the House. 
• Emailed the STATEPSYCH listserv (which includes all the Presidents of SPTAs) to determine how much insurance carriers spent on coverage for eating disorders in states where similar legislation already exists. In Missouri we have a similar mechanism for monitoring how much insurers spend on autism coverage. A report is filed yearly through the Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions and Professional Registration.  
• Annie Seal and our lobbyist Lisa Christie are beginning to work towards amending the bill to specifically include psychologists as first-line provders of empirically supported treatments for Eating Disorders.

Working proudly on your behalf,
Richard P. Martielli, Ph.D., ABPP
President Missouri Psychological Association