News Releases

Joint Statement of America’s Frontline Physicians Opposing Public Charge Proposal

The Trump Administration has issued a proposed regulation that changes long-standing rules governing how and whether immigrants can be determined to be a “public charge;” widens the scope of programs considered by the government in making such a determination; and dramatically lowers the bar for refusing admission or denying individuals green cards or U.S. visas on this basis. In response, the American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American College of Physicians, and American Psychiatric Association, collectively representing more than four hundred thousand of America's frontline physicians, issued this statement

APA Awarded CMS Funding to Develop Quality Measures

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) has been awarded funding to develop mental health and substance use quality measures as part of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Quality Payment Program (QPP) established under the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA). APA is working with experienced measurement developer NCQA. The three-year funding was awarded by CMS who awarded funding to a total of seven organizations.

Seven Health Organizations File Lawsuit Against the Short-Term, Limited-Duration Plan Final Rule

Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP), National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Mental Health America, American Psychiatric Association (APA), AIDS United, National Partnership for Women & Families, and Little Lobbyists today filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to invalidate the short-term, limited-duration insurance (STLDI) plan rule issued last month by three federal agencies. This rule will harm patients and their families as well as others in the health care system by undermining access to quality, affordable coverage, will significantly disrupt insurance markets in states across the country, and threatens to bring back abusive practices that harm consumers specifically prohibited by the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

New Research: Ketamine Activates Opioid System to Treat Depression; Experts Caution Against Widespread Use Due to Potential for Tolerance, Abuse and Dependence

A new study appearing online today from the American Journal of Psychiatry finds that ketamine’s acute antidepressant effect requires opioid system activation, the first time that a receptor site has been shown in humans to be necessary for any antidepressant’s mechanism of action. While opioids have been used historically to treat depression, they are known to carry a high risk of dependence. Alan F. Schatzberg, M.D., who led this research at Stanford, cautions against widespread and repeated use of ketamine for depression treatment until more research can be done on both the mechanism of action and the risk of tolerance, abuse and dependence.

Study Links Mothers’ Pesticide Levels with Autism in Children

A new study appearing online today from The American Journal of Psychiatry finds that elevated pesticide levels in pregnant women are associated with an increased risk of autism among their children.

APA Member Harsh Trivedi named to American Hospital Association Board

Harsh Trivedi, M.D., M.B.A., the head of the Sheppard Pratt Health System in Baltimore and a prominent member of the American Psychiatric Association (APA), has been named to the Board of Trustees for the American Hospital Association (AHA). He begins his three-year term to the AHA board on Jan. 1, 2019.

APA Awarded $7.1 Million Grant for Minority Fellowship Program

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) has been awarded a five-year, $7.1 million grant to continue and expand the HHS/Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Minority Fellowship Program (MFP) grant. The dollar amount represents a nearly doubling of annual federal funding for the APA fellowships.

APA Joins Health Care Community in Calling on Congress to Hold Hearings on Treatment of Children Separated From Parents at Border

Today the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and 13 other health care organizations sent a letter to House and Senate oversight committees urging them to hold hearings with officials with the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Health and Human Services on the treatment of children and families who were separated from their parents at the U.S. border.

Top X Reasons Why America’s Women’s Health Providers Oppose Restrictions to Title X

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has proposed a rule that significantly amends regulations governing the Title X of the Public Health Service Act (Title X), the only federal program exclusively dedicated to providing low-income patients (including adolescents) with access to family planning and preventive health services and information. Federally funded Title X facilities provide access to health and cancer screenings, well woman exams, contraception and testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections.

APA Awarded $14.2 Million Grant to Expand Treatment for Serious Mental Illness

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) has been awarded a five-year, $14.2 million grant to create a Clinical Support System for Serious Mental Illness (CSS-SMI). The grant will help doctors and other health providers treat patients with serious mental illness through consultation and education. Serious mental illnesses are those that substantially interfere with major life activities; they include schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder. The project is funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Media Contacts

Glenn O'Neal, 202-459-9732
press@psych.org

Erin Connors, 202-609-7113
econnors@psych.org