APA Blogs
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Why the New APA-Backed Federal Parity Law Is a Game Changer for Patients & Psychiatrists
APA-backed federal legislation enacted in December 2020 gave the federal government powerful new authority to enforce the law that requires insurers to provide the same access to psychiatric treatment as other medical care for patients they cover. For anyone who’s struggled to find psychiatric care, or has found it too expensive to afford, this law, strengthening mental health parity, is a game changer. Â
APA Unveils New Strategic Plan on Mental Health Equity
The American Psychiatric Association (APA)’s Division of Diversity and Health Equity (DDHE) has launched a new strategic plan to work toward achieving diversity and mental health equity: Charting Excellence Through Partnerships: Strategic Goals for the Division of Diversity and Health Equity.
APA Member Survey Highlights Benefits of Telehealth Use During Pandemic
Since March, the public health crisis caused by COVID-19 has changed many things about our day-to-day lives, including the way our patients access care and the way psychiatrists practice medicine. These changes have been driven by distancing guidelines meant to curtail the spread of the coronavirus and protect doctors, patients and their families.
Podcast: The COVID-19 Crisis and Behavioral Health
The public health emergency caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has had an enormous impact on virtually all facets of our daily lives, especially health care. While the ultimate effects of COVID-19 on both individuals and populations are unclear, we know we will have to navigate the impact of the pandemic on the behavioral health system. The rates of depression, suicide, and substance use are expected to surge as communities continue to struggle with COVID-19 cases—along with the fear, isolation, children falling behind in education and unemployment that comes with the pandemic. It is essential that policymakers ensure that communities have continued access to mental health and substance use disorder services not only during, but also in the aftermath of this pandemic.
What APA is Doing for You: Protecting IMGs a Major Priority as COVID-19 Crisis Continues
As the public health crisis caused by the COVID-19 virus continues to tax health care resources and infrastructure, it is clear that we must use every resource at our disposal to effectively fight the spread of illness and ensure that our patients can access essential health services, including mental health care.