Join your colleagues on Saturday, June 22, 2013 for detailed training about the newly released DSM-5 and earn up to 5 hours of CME/CEU in the process.  This meeting is jointly sponsored by the American Psychiatric Association and the Kansas Psychiatric Society.

The presenters are your esteemed fellow KPS members, Dr. Chester Day and Dr. Michael Burke. Psychiatrists, APRN's, Nurses, Psychologists and Social Workers are all welcome...so spread the word.

DOWNLOAD THE EVENT INVITATION HERE.  (It includes registration information, speaker information, an agenda, and more information.)

REGISTRATIONS MUST BE DONE ONLINE.  REGISTER HERE.  The registration deadline is June 14, 2013.

The meeting is being hosted by the KVC Ball Conference Center, 21350 W. 153rd St. Olathe KS, 666061. http://www.ballconference.com/conferences 

American Psychiatric Association and Others Seek Court’s Intervention in Compelling Anthem and Wellpoint to End Alleged Discrimination Against Mental Health Patients

April 11, 2013 — The American Psychiatric Association, the Connecticut Psychiatric Society, the Connecticut Council of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and two individuals have filed suit in the U.S District Court in Connecticut against Anthem Health Plans, Inc. and its parent company,  Wellpoint, Inc., alleging that the companies discriminate against mental health care patients in violation of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA), Connecticut parity law,  and other state laws.  The complaint seeks declaratory and injunctive relief that would declare that Anthem’s conduct since January 1, 2013 is illegal and prohibit the Companies from continuing to discriminate against those with a mental illness.  Read the complete press release here.

APA & YOU--Together we can stop CPT Coding and Parity Abuses: Feedback Requested

The APA Board voted on March 23 to commit significant staff and financial resources to fighting against abusive implementation of the CPT code changes which as you know were intended to more accurately reflect the work psychiatrists do and to improve patient care. 

To be successful, APA and the District Branches must work together on this issue and have a coordinated response.  The link in the message below will give members the opportunity to provide information directly to APA where we will gather and analyze it by company and by state to determine the best course of action in each situation.

Send your communications about the CPT coding issue to cptparityabuses@psych.org and in the subject line be sure to put “DB Question or Comment” or visit www.psychiatry.org/cptparityabuses.

In addition , you should also contact your state medical society and get information from them about what they are hearing about the CPT coding changes and see if they are willing to work together.  Let us know through the e-mail address: cptparityabuses@psych.org.

If you having a positive experience with a company on the CPT coding changes, please let us know that too by using the e-mail address: cptparityabuses@psych.org.

Thanks and you can keep current on what is going on in other states as we get information by going to www.psychiatry.org/cptparityabuses for updates.

DSM-5 Available for Pre-order

APA is pleased to announce that the DSM-5 and other DSM-5 companion titles are now available for pre-order on www.appi.org! Pre-orders will be fulfilled on May 22, when the book becomes available to the general public.

Also now up is the new DSM-5 landing page featuring news updates, fact sheets, videos, and highlights of changes from DSM-IV to DSM-5! This site will be updated weekly as new articles are published in Psychiatric News.