Congress Halts the SGR Cut!
We are pleased to inform you that Congress has finally taken action to halt the scheduled 26.5% Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) cut, preventing an untenable reduction in psychologist reimbursement that would have harmed patient access and undermined our nation's commitment to its seniors. To learn more CLICK HERE
New CPT Codes: Effective January 1, 2013
In the coming weeks, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is expected to release the final rule on the 2013 Medicare fee schedule, which will include important information for psychologists who treat Medicare beneficiaries. There are four factors related to Medicare policy that could impact actual reimbursement rates for psychologists, three of which affect the entire range of services provided by psychologists. To learn more CLICK HERE
Click on the file below to view a chart of the new CPT codes
Click on the file below to view a chart of the new CPT codes
| 2013codes_crosswalk.pdf |
Eating Disorder Panelists Needed!!
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
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
June 2012 Update
I am excited to share the latest development in our efforts to pass legislation requiring private insurers to cover treatment for eating disorders. Gov. Nixon has signed off on the FY13 budget and included in it is $75,000 towards the creation and ongoing operation of "The Missouri Eating Disorder Council". I have worked closely with Annie Seal, a consultant from the National Eating Disorder Association who is organizing this council. She has several meetings planned across the state to address various topics related to eating disorders and am happy to be part of the meeting that will be held in August here in St. Louis. This is a great step forward in our efforts and one step closer to passing the legislation into law. I would like to think that part of the reason that funding for the Council has been approved this fiscal year whereas it has not in the past is due to the emails we sent to the governor that originated form an Action Alert sent out earlier this year through our newly initiated CapWiz system. Thank you to all who responded to the action alert and who sent emails or made phone calls to your legislators. Today is a victory for MOPA but more importantly it is a victory for individuals diagnosed with an eating disorder who cannot receive necessary treatment as well as their families.
Yours in service,
Richard P. Martielli, Ph.D., ABPP
Immediate Past-President of MOPA
Yours in service,
Richard P. Martielli, Ph.D., ABPP
Immediate Past-President of MOPA
Support Missouri Psychology!
April 2012: Legislative Update
- SB 742 (Brown) which require health carriers to credential a health care practitioner within 90 days (compromised from 60 days) of receiving a completed application; was third read and voted on the Senate floor. It was passed through the Senate with a vote of 31Y/2N. The two no votes came from Senators Engler and Callahan.
- HB 1518 (Grisamore) Authorizes the licensure of a provisionally licensed behavior analyst and assistant behavior analyst and a temporary licensed behavior analyst and assistant behavior analyst...has made it's way all through the house and has been 1st and 2nd read in the Senate and is set to be heard in Senate Finance Committee on 4/16/2012.
March 2012: Recent State Legislative Action by MOPA
Our previous campaign to support our Lobbyist Fund was a huge success! Thanks to your efforts, we were able to retain a full-time lobbyist on staff who has made significant contributions to our legislative activity. To give you a brief sampling of some recent activity that has been occurring at the state level:
On all of these bills and issues, we would not be able to defend our scope from other professions or expand our scope to be included in new legislation without the tireless work of our lobbyist Jerry Burch and Associates. Most of these bills would not come across our desk were it not for our lobbyist having her ear on the rumblings of Jeff City and knowing the key players. The ongoing funding of our lobbyist is dependent not only on the dues of our members, but on the contributions of volunteers within MOPA who contribute generously to our Lobbyist Fund. If you would like to donate again, or would like to donate for the first time, just click on the link below:
- We successfully have amended HB1032 to include psychologists as qualified professionals who can conduct adoption evaluations.
- MOPA has officially offered its support via testimony and written letter of support for both SB742 and HB1490 - both of which require insurance companies to respond to applications for credentialing by providers within 60 days. This ensures that insurance companies don't just "sit" on psychologists applications indefinitely while they await a decision and patients go untreated.
- MOPA's APA Council Representative Brick Johnstone, MOPA's Medicaid Task Force Chair John Howell, and our lobbyist met with representatives from MOHealthNet (Medicaid) to discuss including Health and Behavior Codes as reimbursable codes under Medicaid and negotiating the parameters of the current cap (150 hours) on billable hours per calendar month under Medicaid. Medicaid was receptive to our ideas and everyone left the meeting feeling optimistic.
- We are keeping a close eye on HB1509 which would mandate insurance carriers to cover services related to Eating Disorders. This bill has great potential for expanding opportunities for practice of psychologists.
- We have successfully defended our scope of practice from in regard to HB1082 which would give LPCs authority to diagnose.
On all of these bills and issues, we would not be able to defend our scope from other professions or expand our scope to be included in new legislation without the tireless work of our lobbyist Jerry Burch and Associates. Most of these bills would not come across our desk were it not for our lobbyist having her ear on the rumblings of Jeff City and knowing the key players. The ongoing funding of our lobbyist is dependent not only on the dues of our members, but on the contributions of volunteers within MOPA who contribute generously to our Lobbyist Fund. If you would like to donate again, or would like to donate for the first time, just click on the link below:
February 2012 Legislative Update
Below is a message that was sent out to MOPA members as part of a February update:
Dear fellow psychologists,
I hope you all are enjoying the unseasonably mild temperatures right now. I'm writing to give everyone some updates about what MOPA has been doing for you.
Yours in service,
Richard P. Martielli, Ph.D., ABPP
MOPA President
Dear fellow psychologists,
I hope you all are enjoying the unseasonably mild temperatures right now. I'm writing to give everyone some updates about what MOPA has been doing for you.
- We are arranging a meeting with MO Health Net to discuss 1) including Health and Behavior Codes as CPT codes that psychologists can request reimbursement for, and 2) eliminating the cap on the number of billable hours per month allowed for psychologists under Medicaid.
- HB 1082 (Wells) that would grant LPC's to ability to diagnose psychological disorders still has not been assigned to committee since it was second read on January 5th. One justification LPCs give (and legislators value) is the alleged lack of psychologists in rural areas of Missouri, with this bill granting constituents easier access to services. Of course our rebuttal is that this would mean lower quality of care and potential harm to those same constituents, but we also provided the bills' sponsor (Rep. Wells) a list of Psychologists who work in his district if one should be needed.
- We continue to monitor HB 1032 (Allen) which grants LPCs the authority to conduct a full investigation into whether an individual is suitable as an adoptive parent. Surprisingly, psychologists are not listed on the bill as a discipline that can also conduct these evaluations. We are working to at the very least add psychologists to those qualified to conduct these evaluations and possibly prevent the bill form passing altogether. We have received feedback from psychologists who conduct these evaluations and they are complex, require specific training and experience (which we belief LPCs lack) and have significant implications on people's lives.
- Looming over the legislature this year is the budget and Missouri's anticipated $600 million shortfall.
- We are gearing up for our convention in St. Louis at the Regional Arts Center located in the Delmar Loop on March 23-24. It will be an exciting event filled with great speakers and lots of other events. Hope to see everyone there. More details can be found by clicking here.
- SAVE THE DATE! Our Legislative Day in Jefferson City is scheduled for Wednesday April 4th. More details will be forthcoming as we near the event, but this is our chance to make the voice of psychology in Missouri heard by our lawmakers. Please join us to meet with state senators and representatives and make a direct impact on the psychology landscape in our state.
Yours in service,
Richard P. Martielli, Ph.D., ABPP
MOPA President
Legislative Action Tool
Legislative Tool
Make your voice heard to Members of Congress and the Administration on issues critical to your patients and profession. Use this tool to send communication to your state and federal elected officials. You can easily select your state or territory and the tool will find your elected member so that you can send correspondence with the click of a button. Legislative Action Tool HERE
Make your voice heard to Members of Congress and the Administration on issues critical to your patients and profession. Use this tool to send communication to your state and federal elected officials. You can easily select your state or territory and the tool will find your elected member so that you can send correspondence with the click of a button. Legislative Action Tool HERE
APA Working for You
This summary highlights a broad range of recent advocacy activities by the American Psychological Association Practice Organization (APA Practice Organization, or APAPO) to advance and protect the professional interests of practicing psychologists. Here are 10 action steps reported by the APA on their work and efforts for you. Join the APA today and help keep psychology strong. APA action HERE
APA Legislative & Legal Education
Learn about important advocacy efforts, including the successful fight for mental health parity, and support professional psychology's federal legislative initiatives by using the
Legislative Action Center HERE.
Your State Lobbyist:
Burch & Associates
Public and Government Consultants
213 East Capitol Avenue, Suite One
Jefferson City, MO 65101
If you have issues or concerns that you'd like MOPA to address contact your MOPA board.
Jerry W. Burch
Mr. Burch has served as Missouri State University's legislative consultant since 1990 and MOPA's lobbyist since Spring 2011. He lives in Walker, Mo., and served in the Missouri House of Representatives from
1978-90.
Associate: Lisa Christie
Ms. Christie is an Associate Lobbyist at Burch & Associates and on the Planning Commission at City of Nevada. She is a graduate of Southwest Baptist University.
