Legislative Review

As we move toward the end of the 2019-2020 legislative session, we thought it would be beneficial to highlight key grassroots advocacy efforts our members and our lobbyist have embarked on this year on your behalf.

Collaboration with APA Highlights

• Participation in APA’s State Issues Advocacy conference • Participation in APA Assembly and Area 3 meetings, providing input/drafting numerous Action Papers (including issues on structural racism; organizational transparency, non-physician prescribing, MOC, telemedicine and COVIDrelated changes to mental health and substance use treatment) • Working closely with APA’s Division of Government Relations (DGR) on mental health parity legislation, collaborative care legislation, scope of practice and telemedicine initiatives • Solicited PaPS member input on revised practice guidelines for schizophrenia; 42 CFR Part 2 revised changes; the CMS 2021 proposed Physician Fee Schedule and other related topics • Affirmed APA’s request for grassroots lobbying campaigns in areas of federal psychological prescribing expansion within the VA system and expansion of their scope within the

Medicare system, and continuance of telemedicine coverage after the pandemic • Signed onto letters with APA related to telemedicine; continued mental health funding within Medicare system; and to support additional prior authorization revisions • Closely monitoring APA’s task force on structural racism, including soliciting members’ participation in member surveys

Collaboration with Pennsylvania Medical Society and our medical specialty colleagues

• PaPS representative participation in quarterly PAMED Specialty

Leadership Cabinet meetings, PAMED Board of Trustee meetings and Annual House of Delegates • Review and providing input on House of Delegate resolutions • Monthly participation in provider coalition group meetings on

Surprise/Out of Network Billing grassroots lobbying efforts • Participation on regularly scheduled PA Provider Coalition meetings (originated by Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania) to discuss a variety of legislative and regulatory issues affecting organized medicine • Supporting medical specialty colleagues on mutual areas of interest, including medical malpractice/change of venue reforms; prior authorization; telemedicine; and opposition to

CRNP scope of practice expansion/related scope of practice expansions for non-MD providers • Monitored and disseminated PAMED information on COVID-19, including up to date resources

Collaboration with behavioral health advocates/Society-led initiatives

• Worked closely with Representative Stephens and Senator

Killion to advance Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO/

Red-Flag) legislation • Monitor and Vehemently Oppose continued expansion of mental health and substance use conditions under PA Medical

Marijuana Program • Monitor and provide additional resources via website and communications on COVID

Collaborate with our colleagues at Pennsylvania Psychiatric Leadership Council (PPLC):

• COVID-19: bimonthly zoom calls; work with APA and other media resources on drafting op-ed pieces; developing resources/initiatives and other related projects •Task Force on Structural Racism: overall project co-chaired by

PaPS member and lobbyist, two subcommittees formed with member participation to focus on recruitment/retention and education/training/curriculum for black psychiatrists; task force overview calls on a bi-monthly basis • Coalition for the CommonHealth: serve on steering committee; meeting monthly to discuss grassroots advocacy and crucial dialogue with key members of Pennsylvania Departments of

Corrections, Drug/Alcohol Programs, Health, Human Services, and key staffers within Wolf Administration •PaPS lobbyist representation for Society in quarterly Forensic

Interagency Task Force • PaPS members and PaPS lobbyist representation on key advisory committees and advisory boards within state’s Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs, Department of Health, Department of Human

Services, Department of Transportation and

Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency where our voice is heard. • PaPS lobbyist holds leadership positions in two key advisory boards within DHS that serve to guide Wolf Administration on issues affecting Medicaid enrollees. • PaPS lobbyist drafted guidance on revised Minor Consent Act (now

Act 65 of 2020) and member correspondence detailing changes • Worked closely PA Department of Insurance and APA to draft letter of support for House Bill 1696 (Mental Health Parity) as written to members of PA Senate and key Wolf administration officials.

As a result, House Bill 1696 passed both chambers, awaiting governor’s signature. • PaPS and APA signed onto joint letter to Governor Wolf on COVID protections and support for additional funding • PaPS lobbyist invitation to attend 2020 Budget Briefing by Governor

Wolf and budget luncheon • PaPS sign onto amicus brief to support additional liability protections for physicians regarding duty to warn and involuntary commitment • PaPS signed onto joint letter supporting safe syringe exchange programs across commonwealth • PaPS participation in interviews by PA Department of Drug and

Alcohol Programs on proposed changes to 255.1 Regulations • Continued support of Wolf Administration’s expansion of Medication Assisted Treatment, Reach Out PA: Mental Health Matters campaign and related initiatives that encourage reduction of mental health stigma, expanded access to care and expanded coverage for evidence-based substance use and mental health treatment/services without scope of practice expansion for non-MD practitioners. • Legislative Budget and Finance Committee (LBFC) Report on House

Resolution 515: PaPS solicited to provide comments/returned input prior to report creation • PaPS monitors and review all proposed legislation introduced related to substance use and mental health, creating a legislative watch list.