Drew Ramsey, MD: Healthcare reform is on everyone's mind. I'm Dr Drew Ramsey, reporting from Medscape Psychiatry. I'm here at the annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association (APA). I spoke with some of the leaders of the organization about healthcare reform and its impact on patients with mental health conditions.
Dr Shah, healthcare reform is on everyone's mind. What is essential to psychiatry when it comes to healthcare reform?
Ravi N. Shah, MD: We have to get insurance companies to adequately reimburse for the care that our psychiatrists and therapists provide. This is critical for patients—not just getting better from their mental health conditions, but also for their overall physical health care.
Dr Ramsey: I'm speaking with Dr Kraus, who's the treasurer of the American Psychiatric [Association] Foundation. Dr Kraus, what are some of the most important issues when it comes to healthcare reform?
Louis J. Kraus, MD: The three most important issues for psychiatry are: (1) issues dealing with preexisting conditions; (2) issues with parity; and (3) the single-payer system. All of these are issues within the Affordable Care Act; all of these are issues that, as psychiatrists, we have to be very concerned about and work in every way we can with the APA in regard to efforts in Congress and on the Hill.
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COMMENTARY
Healthcare Reform and Psychiatry's Wish List
Drew Ramsey, MD
DisclosuresAugust 01, 2017
Drew Ramsey, MD: Healthcare reform is on everyone's mind. I'm Dr Drew Ramsey, reporting from Medscape Psychiatry. I'm here at the annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association (APA). I spoke with some of the leaders of the organization about healthcare reform and its impact on patients with mental health conditions.
Dr Shah, healthcare reform is on everyone's mind. What is essential to psychiatry when it comes to healthcare reform?
Ravi N. Shah, MD: We have to get insurance companies to adequately reimburse for the care that our psychiatrists and therapists provide. This is critical for patients—not just getting better from their mental health conditions, but also for their overall physical health care.
Dr Ramsey: I'm speaking with Dr Kraus, who's the treasurer of the American Psychiatric [Association] Foundation. Dr Kraus, what are some of the most important issues when it comes to healthcare reform?
Louis J. Kraus, MD: The three most important issues for psychiatry are: (1) issues dealing with preexisting conditions; (2) issues with parity; and (3) the single-payer system. All of these are issues within the Affordable Care Act; all of these are issues that, as psychiatrists, we have to be very concerned about and work in every way we can with the APA in regard to efforts in Congress and on the Hill.
Medscape Psychiatry © 2017 WebMD, LLC
Any views expressed above are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the views of WebMD or Medscape.
Cite this: Healthcare Reform and Psychiatry's Wish List - Medscape - Aug 01, 2017.
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Authors and Disclosures
Authors and Disclosures
Author
Drew Ramsey, MD
Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, New York
Drew Ramsey, MD, has disclosed the following relevant financial relationships:
Serve(d) as a director, officer, partner, employee, advisor, consultant, or trustee for: InterContinental Hotels Group; National Kale Day 501(c)3
Received income in an amount equal to or greater than $250 from: Sharecare