APA’s Government, Policy, and Advocacy Update (May 2023)

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Back to table of contents Previous article Next article Government & LegalFull AccessAPA’s Government, Policy, and Advocacy Update (May 2023)Search for more papers by this authorPublished Online:25 Apr 2023https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.pn.2023.05.5.19APA, AACAP Ask DEA About Plans To Address Stimulant ShortageIn a letter to Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Administrator Anne Milgram, J.D., APA and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) asked what actions are being taken by the DEA to improve the nation’s supply of stimulant medications and requested a time to meet with DEA staff to address the situation.“The nation has grappled with a stimulant medication shortage since October of last year, starting with the Adderall shortage, linked to Teva manufacturing delays,” the organizations wrote. “Many child and adolescent psychiatrists, general psychiatrists, and other physicians have been forced to switch their patients’ medications, transitioning them to non-Adderall stimulant alternatives, which has its own set of potential pitfalls, including not working as well to curb symptoms of ADHD and commonly occurring comorbid mental disorders.”The increased demand for stimulant medications other than Adderall has resulted in further shortage of Ritalin and Concerta, the organizations noted. The letter included several firsthand accounts from clinicians who shared the stress and anxiety the situation has caused, as well as the huge amount of time it has taken to help patients and families find medications. The clinicians detailed the onerous process of calling different pharmacies, dealing with prior authorization requests, and working with parents and schools to create emergency plans for children who must go days without their medications due to the shortages.APA and AACAP’s Letter to the DEA on the Stimulant Shortage APA Responds to CMS’s Proposed Interoperability, Prior Authorization RuleIn December, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed a rule to advance the agency’s interoperability goals and address some challenges related to prior authorization “to increase efficiencies in health care,” according to a CMS fact sheet. The rule would place new requirements on Medicare Advantage organizations, state Medicaid programs, and insurers that offer plans on the federal marketplace to improve the electronic exchange of health care data and streamline their prior authorization processes.In a letter to CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, M.P.P., APA commented on numerous aspects of the proposed rule and recommended some revisions focused on equity and effectiveness. “To effectively focus efforts on standardization and interoperability, the root causes of technological inequity in clinical mental health settings need to be addressed through financial incentives, technical assistance, and learning networks,” APA’s letter, signed by APA CEO and Medical Director Saul Levin, M.D., M.P.A., stated.Some of APA’s recommendations include incorporating patient protections related to using apps and increasing funding for research related to standardizing and validating the tools and processes used to collect information.APA’s Letter on Interoperability and Prior Authorization APA Provides Workforce Recommendations To Senate HELP CommitteeThe Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee requested information in February on the drivers behind the health care workforce shortage and potential solutions. APA submitted its response in a letter signed by Levin, highlighting various programs, many of which are under the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), that should receive continued or increased funding to address the workforce shortages worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic.The letter highlighted the importance of several HRSA programs, including the Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Loan Repayment Program, the Pediatric Subspecialty Loan Repayment Program, and the Children’s Hospitals Graduate Medical Education Program.Further, the letter emphasized the effectiveness of the Collaborative Care Model in expanding the footprint of the existing behavioral health workforce, the importance of expanded access to telepsychiatry, and the need to invest in programs that improve workforce diversity.APA’s Letter to the HELP Committee APA Thanks Senators for Reintroducing Bill to Benefit TraineesAlong with dozens of medical organizations, APA sent a letter to Sens. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) and John Boozman (R-Ark.), thanking them for the reintroduction of the Resident Education Deferred Interest (REDI) Act. The legislation would allow borrowers to qualify for interest-free deferment on their student loans while serving in a medical or dental internship or residency program.“Passage of the REDI Act is an important part of student loan repayment reform,” the organizations wrote. ■The Letter in Support of the REDI Act ISSUES NewArchived