REPORT FROM THE SPRING 2008 AREA II COUNCIL MEETING
BY: Michael Schwartz, MD Representative

 I attended the NYSPA Council Meeting at the LaGuardia Marriott on March 29, 2008. A highlight of the meeting was when Mental Health Commissioner Michael Hogan addressed the Council. Otherwise it was a rather sedate affair in that there were no issues of controversy discussed. Your state organization (NYSPA) is in good shape.

We are in good shape financially. Our NYSPA PAC is doing well. I would urge any member reading my report to contribute to the PAC. Political lobbying is an essential part of the NYSPA mission – it enables our voice to be heard, both on behalf of our patients and ourselves.

Seth Stein, the NYSPA Executive Director, submitted an accounting of his activities as Executive Director covering the period November 2007 – March 2008. This was in response to a request by the Council. A copy of this report is available on request.

For those of you following developments in Timothy’s Law, there have been some controversies related to (of course), third party payers attempting to find loopholes to avoid paying claims. Seth Stein submitted a memo to the State Insurance Department to clarify the following issues:

1. Health plans cannot restrict psychiatrists to submitting claims only for psychiatry procedure codes and must permit psychiatrists to use all E/M codes covered under the health plan.
2. Covered diagnostic entities: schizophrenia/psychotic disorders, major depression, bipolar disorder, delusional disorder, panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, bulimia and anorexia. Parity coverage is also mandated for children with serious emotional disturbances and certain behaviors or symptoms.
3. Health plans should not routinely require psychiatrist and other mental health professionals who have submitted claims for treatment of a biologically based mental illness or serious emotional disturbances as defined in Timothy’s Law to provide copies of the patient’s treatment record to verify that the patient has one of these illnesses.

Highlights from the Executive Budget Request for the OMH were circulated. A copy is available by request.

NYSPA will provide a financial incentive for each new or reinstated general member or fellow secured by the efforts of the DB. The financial incentive will be one-half of the NYSPA general member/fellow dues received by NYSPA for the first two years of their new membership or reinstatement.

In addition, the DB will also be entitled to the financial incentive for the enrollment of new members in the class of General Members and Fellows. The financial incentive for the first year of $75 will be paid once NYSPA receives the full annual dues of and the financial incentive for the second year will be paid when NYSPA receives the full dues for the second year.

NYSPA will recognize outstanding results by DBs in each of the four areas of Recruitment, Retention, Recommitment, and Residency Participation. Additionally, NYSPA will recognize a DB for the best overall achievement.

There was an awards presentation ($500 for first place) for the NYSPA Resident Scientific Paper Competition, so that those of you involved in residency training may want to think about getting involved in this.

The next NYSPA Council will be held on October 25, 2008 at the beautiful LaGuardia Marriott. Any member can attend (and get free breakfast and lunch). So come on down! Just let me know if you will be joining us.