Advocacy

The Pennsylvania Psychiatric Society advocates for policies consistent with our mission. What this means in practice is monitoring legislation proposed or introduced, meeting with representatives of the Governor’s administration, and building relationships with committees relevant to issues of mental health care. We rely on assistance from APA central office, state legislative representatives, APA position statements, data repositories, and our PaPS members to promote our professions’ positions. The Government Relations Committee meets monthly reviewing actions on issues important to the practice of psychiatry in the Commonwealth, developing strategy, writing letters and testimony, and interfacing with the PaPS Executive Committee.

How can you engage in advancing PaPS’ voice?

PaPS PAC

PaPS PAC – to advance our agenda, we utilize contributions to support candidates for office who have demonstrated a willingness to hear our views. Since PaPS general operating funds cannot be used in this way, we solicit eligible PaPS members to provide money to be used to attend fundraising events. In this way, we can connect with staff members of important committees, as well as demonstrating support to the legislative representatives themselves.

Your contributions enable PaPS to cover the cost of attending fundraisers for important members of the legislature.

Learn More about PaPS PAC

Grassroot Advocacy Efforts

PaPS members can assist with moving our legislative priorities forward by developing a relationship with your local elected officials, especially those members serving on important committees of jurisdiction.

Action Alerts

Respond to requests from PaPS to contact legislators concerning pending legislative issues. Share information to PaPS regarding developments in psychiatric practice in the Commonwealth that need attention (e.g., insurers issuing blanket denials for payment). Agree to attend legislative fundraisers for your local legislative members, especially those PaPS PAC supports through a contribution..

Current Issues Being Monitored

PaPS and the Government Relations Committee, have ongoing discussions about ensuring access to appropriate mental health care.

Some issues, like proposing to expand scope of practice to empower psychologists to prescribe medication are problematic. PaPS’ belief is that such a move would not increase access to care, since the problem is access to all forms of treatment – waiting lists for appointments with psychologists are just as long as for psychiatrists. Psychologist training is very different from medical training. Most psychologists are not interested in expanding their scope to something they will not be able to do nearly as well as what they are already well-trained to do – psychotherapy, diagnostic assessment, and psychological testing.

PaPS believes increasing access to care is better served by the Collaborative Care model (CoCM), in which primary care provider practices are paired with psychiatrists who collaborate in the management of a panel of patients in the primary care office. This leverages the expertise of psychiatrists who review assessments done be embedded behavioral health practitioners and make recommendations for the PCP to implement (medication changes, CBT, and other therapies.)

analyzing financial charts and data reports in modern office setting

PaPS supports efforts to standardize the way the Mental Health Procedures Act is implemented across the state and monitor efforts to amend the MHPA.

PaPS carefully monitor efforts to improve treatment for substance use disorder, which for some means authorizing involuntary treatment. PaPS has not yet seen an approach that would be worth the cost, both in dollar amounts as well as loss of liberty.

PaPS works closely with the Pennsylvania Medical Society to lobby the legislature for areas of medical practice of concern to all physicians. We have been involved in legislative and regulatory interventions to reduce the burden of prior authorization, as well as ensuring the appropriate privacy of patient information in the era of AI.

New issues each month are addressed by the Government Relations Committee and the DB Executive Committee.

paps pac donation qr code 405402609 — **Donate to PaPS-PAC by Mail**

**Pennsylvania Psychiatric Society**
PAC Fund
PO Box 61634
Harrisburg, PA 17106

Why is it important for me to support the PaPS-PAC?

It is important that the Pennsylvania Psychiatric Society remains engaged in policy debate in the political arena. We often face well-organized, well-funded and determined adversaries who expend resources on capturing political clout. This means, we must be just as prepared. Our legislative partners will stand with us in support of what is in the best interest of patients and practices.

Pennsylvania Psychiatric SOCIETY

Together, we can work to make a difference in the practice of psychiatry and in the lives of the consumers we serve.

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