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Assembly
Report: Report to the Indiana Psychiatric Society
APA Assembly Meeting
November 14 - 16, 2003
J.W. Marriott Hotel, Washington, D.C.
Presented
by: John J. Wernert, M.D., IPS representative to APA Assembly
Indiana
Psychiatric Society was again well represented at this semi-annual
meeting of the APA Assembly. In attendance:
John J. Wernert, M.D. -- IPS Rep
Chris Bojrab, M.D. -- IPS Dep Rep
Jon Delaney, M.D -- Area IV MIT Rep
David Henley, M.D. -- Area IV ECP Rep
R. Michael Pearce, M.D. -- Past Speaker
Assembly
received several important reports concerning the APA's
financial status. Cost cutting by the Board over the past
year has netted positive results.
Treasurer's
Report - was given by Dr. Jay Scully and Terri Swetnam,
CFO.
These numbers represent role up of total APA financials
(including all subsidiaries)
| Fiscal
Year Profit (loss) |
| 1999
|
($2M) |
| 2000 |
($3.2M) |
| 2001 |
($750K) |
| 2002
|
+$2.1M |
| 2003 |
projected
+ $4M
(revenue =$ 56M and expenses =$52M) |
Current
investment Portfolio increased from $21M -to $23M in 2003
2003
revenues:
Dues: $9.7 M
Annual Mtg. Revenue: $7.8M
Publishing revenue: $4.4M
San
Francisco Annual Meeting broke all records with 17,000 registrants
and 5,000 exhibitors and visitors. We worry if New York
meeting can live up to expectations.
The
BOT has elected to put most of 2003 excess back in to reserves
that have been depleted in previous years by running losses.
James
Scully, Jr., MD - APA Medical Director report.
Encouraged members to use new Website; Very snappy new design;
New HIPPA educational materials; Check out "Members
Only" corner
MHETA
legislation remains a top legislative priority
Eliminate discriminatory 50 % mental health copay for Medicare
patients
Emergency funds sent to 8 states with pending psychologist
prescribing legislation
Institute
Psych Services Annual Meeting - good increase attendance
and revenue
APA
Membership up for the1st time in 7 years! (increased ½%)
7000
members have new APA sponsored Malpractice insurance
Legion has been liquidated; PPG now the carrier; Alan Levison
MD is director of PPG
National
Election 2004
Assembly heard campaign speeches from candidates for APA
Pres-elect 2004
Dr. Jag Srinivasaraghaven and Dr. Steve Sharfstein
Council
on Advocacy and Public Policy - Jeremy Lazarus, MD (CAPP
Chair)
We all must fight the scheduled 4.3% MC decrease
Working on fighting psychology prescribing legislation in
other states
Status is a moving target in New Mexico
Speakers
Award - Louis Moench, MD (Area VII)
Warren Williams Award - Patrick Staunton, MD (IL)
Assembly
Profile of Courage Award presented to Daniel Shrager,
MD and Harold Eist, MD for fighting unnecessary release
of private patient information
Fifteen
action papers were reviewed and debated
Highlights:
- proposal to develop specific adult criteria for attention
deficit disorder
- develop guidelines for interface between psychiatrist
and pharmaceutical companies
- No action taken on proposal by Texas and Washington state
to develop affiliate membership and potential "delinking"
with National office.
Area
IV Council Meeting
Report to Indiana Psychiatric Society
Area
IV Council
J.W. Marriott Hotel, Washington, D.C.
Thursday 11/13/03, 9 am - 5pm
Submitted
by: John J. Wernert, M.D., MHA
Indiana Representative to Area IV Council
1) This
meeting represents the usual Summer Meeting of the Area
IV Council. Time and money are saved by having this meeting
before the November Assembly Meeting.
2) Budget
Report: Block Grant report
2003 Block grant $35,000
Remainder 2002 $1080
2001 $7291
Total $43371
(Expenses) ($20461)
Balance
$22,910
Investments:
Money Market $71,424
Checking $14,909
Total
Assets/Equity $110,449.00
3) Area
IV Trustee - Sid Weissman, M.D. reported on Board of Trustee
actions (full report on psych.org website).
Finances were the major focus. Thanks to cost cutting, the
APA total operations will experience a projected $4.4 million
surplus 2003 fiscal year. However, our reserves were depleted
after 4 years of losses. BOT is electing to put surplus
in reserves and not spend elsewhere.
4) Lengthy
discussion concerning a proposal submitted by the Texas
and Washington State DB's attempting to establish a new
member category of "Affiliate Membership". Many
large DB's are challenged financially as membership falls,
so has dues revenue (unlike national office which has other
sources of revenue, such a publications). The affiliates
can be physicians other than psychiatrists. The idea is
to reach out to disenfranchised or new potential members,
entice them in to DB activities and eventual encourage them
to become full dues paying members. Contrary opinion ran
high, mainly on the theme of "United we stand, Divided
we fall", and that such levels of membership would
divide the organization and encourage some DB's to "de-link"
from national membership. A more robust debate occurred
before the full Assembly. Our APA bylaws currently do NOT
allow such affiliate membership classes at this time, and
would require a 2/3 vote to change it.
5) Legislative Representative John Wernert, M.D. gave a
report on new priorities on Committee of Government Relations,
and new reorganization of Council on Advocacy and Public
Policy (CAPP).
6) Public Affairs Representative Judy Kashtan, M.D. reported
on the problems recruiting PA Reps in each DB. New Advocacy
materials and "Speaking Points" are being developed
to assist members.
7) District Branch Reports:
Major Themes:
· Continued closing of State Hospitals
· Medicaid Shortfalls and service cutbacks
· Lack of treatment in state prisons and jails
· Parity legislation has passed most states
· "Open Access" laws to psychiatric Rx
discussed
· Most states have set up Medicaid Drug Utilization
Review Boards (DUR) to develop Medicaid drug formularies
or Preferred Drug Lists (PDL). Most states have psychiatrists
on these committees.
8) The Area IV Council reviewed numerous Assembly reports
and Action Papers, and heard from candidates for Assembly
and National office.
9) Final action was to plan a summer 2004 meeting. Your
Indiana delegation offered Indianapolis as an option as
we hosted the last council meeting in 1998. The group was
unanimous in their decision to approve our capital city
as the site for next years meeting.
Report
to the IPS Council
APA
Assembly Meeting
Moscone Center, San Fransisco, California
May 16 - 18, 2003
John
J. Wernert, M.D.,MHA
Indiana Representative to the APA Assembly
President
Paul Appelbaum reported:
1. Budget
crisis has been temporarily abated but still anticipated
$ 1 m loss next budget year. Action taken last year (primarily
cost cutting) to trim the deficit turned $3 m deficit in
to $1 m surplus.
2. First
time in history the membership and BOT approved decreased
in BOT members - overall decrease 2 positions. With next
election round, Secretary and Treasurer positions will merge.
3. Assembly
debated a proposal to decrease % membership needed to make
bylaws changes - no final proposal approved.
President-elect
Marcia Goins reported:
1.
New additions to the APA Website Psych.org
HIPPA consultation; Mentors for ECP's; Advocacy tool kits
New
Medical Director Dr. Jay Scully reported:
1. Move to Arlington, Virginia was hectic but successful.
Moved in to modern space, more room, more functional. Moral
high among staff.
2.
Membership was polled about their concerns about Central
Office problems - staff turnover was the biggest concern.
Dr. Scully reported the results of a personal study over
time. Results showed staff turnover - no higher than usual.
3.
Retirement of Jay Cutler, Director of Government Relations
Gene Cassel has stepped in - interim Director
90 quality applicants have submitted resumes for director's
position
4. APA now 501C-6 with 3 separate 501C-3 subsidiaries:
APPI - one of the largest medical publication companies
in world
APIRE - Research and Education Company - life long learning
American Psychiatric Foundation - charitable
5.
APA operating budget $54 million. $9.1 m dues. Annual Budget
hinges on good revenue from Annual Meeting. San Francisco
meeting broke all previous records. 37% of our revenues
now comes from publishing.
6.
BOT has decided not to use $ from reserves for operations
(to prevent previous budget problems). So need to raise
an additional $2m revenue or $2m in cost savings to make
up the difference.
7. Malpractice Insurance - still working with PPG
(Physicians Purchasing Group) to secure new coverage for
failing APA coverage. This effects 7000 members - when new
insurance goes in to place, they will have AIG insurance
The
Assembly heard a one - hour Presentation & Progress
report on Presidents' New Freedom Commission
Check out the website for updates - Mental Health Commission.gov
Michael
F/ Hogan, Ph.D. - chair, Presidents New Freedom Commission
presented a concise update of work thus far.
Report
goes to President & White House Domestic Policy team
who will then charge various agencies to begin implementing
parts of the plan. Next year committee will be lobbying
various agencies to begin piecing the plan together. All
realize this will be incremental change (or should we blow-up
the whole system and start over?).
Speaker's
Awards were presented to:
Lydia Lewis, President, Depression & Bipolar support
Alliance (DBSA)
Jay B. Cutler - recently retired Director of Gov. &
Relations, APA
ASSEMBLY
ACTIONS:
Assembly acted on 24 action papers
Approved:
A study for universal Health Insurance
Free online CME for members
Increased member access to BOT votes
Position statements on Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer research
(SCNT) and moving personality disorders to Axis I
A number
of issues including joining the HIPPA lawsuit were referred
to appropriate committees for further study.
Become
an APA Fellow!
Fellow
status is an honor that reflects your dedication to the
work of the
APA and signifies your allegiance to the psychiatric profession.
Complete
information and application material is posted on the Web
at:
http://www.psych.org/apa_members/applyfellow.cfm
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