Legislative Positions
AGPA actively promotes the awareness of
group psychotherapy as a treatment alternative to the public, patients/clients, potential
sources of referrals, creators and public policy, third-party payers, and educators.
AGPA is an active participant in the Mental Health Liaison Group, a consortium of mental health
organizations which cooperates on public information and legislative initiatives. As part
of its work with the Mental Health Liaison Group, AGPA has supported
the following legislation:
January 24, 2013
A letter with specific program recommendations to help reduce acts
of violence, such as the recent tragic shooting in Newtown, CT to
Vice President Biden and the task force which were preparing a plan
for consideration by the President.
January 18, 2013
A letter supporting an increase in the appropriations budget for
mental health programs and substance use disorder programs under the
jurisdiction of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration (SAMHSA) (including increases to programs dedicated
to youth services) in order to increase access to these programs for
those in need
December 26, 2012`
A letter offering comments on areas to be included in the Proposed
Rule on Standards Related to Essential Health Benefits as they will
be included in the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, most
specifically with regard to insuring parity for mental health in a
variety of areas
December 19, 2012
AGPA has endorsed a position statement on school shootings,
developed by an interdisciplinary group on preventing school and
community violence which provides scientifically informed principles
and recommendations for practitioners, policymakers and the public
at large to help prevent future mass shootings.
September 10, 2012
Support of U.S. ratification of the Convention on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Similar to the principles of the
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the principles of the CRPD
include equality, non-discrimination, full inclusion in society,
accessibility, and respect for individuals’ dignity. The CRPD aims
to ensure that countries across the globe provide people with
disabilities the same rights as everyone else in order to live full,
satisfying and productive lives; ratification of the treaty by the
United States will send a needed signal around the world about the
importance of enabling individuals with disabilities to be full
participants in society.
August 2012
AGPA was a supporting organization in an advertisement which ran in
Politico (a political news publication) in August 2012 supporting
the continuation of safeguards insuring that dual eligibles-(those
enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid programs) with mental health
and addictive disorders receive choice and access to effective
treatments to meet their needs.
July 18, 2012
A letter submitted for the record for the hearing “Examining
Medicare and Medicaid Coordination for Dual Eligibles” requesting
strong congressional oversight to ensure proposals for programs to
implement the Affordable Care Act (ACA) ensure critical protections
for dually eligible individuals with mental illness (those eligible
for both Medicare and Medicaid); a highly vulnerable population,
two-thirds of whom are low income and elderly and one-third of whom
are disabled, and who are more likely to have mental or cognitive
impairments.
June 6, 2012
A letter requesting this office ensure proposals for programs to
implement the Affordable Care Act (ACA) ensure critical protections
for dually eligible individuals with mental illness (those eligible
for both Medicare and Medicaid); a highly vulnerable population,
two-thirds of whom are low income and elderly and one-third of whom
are disabled, and who are more likely to have mental or cognitive
impairments.
October 21, 2011
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA)
Letter regarding the proposed rule
establishing summaries of benefits and coverage under the Patient
Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), recommending an amendment
to the definition of medical necessity in order to better protect
persons with disabilities and chronic conditions.
August 11, 2011
Medicare Mental Health Modernization Act of
2011
Letter supporting the “Medicare Mental Health Modernization Act of
2011” H.R. 2783, which addresses limitations in the current mental
health benefit in Medicare affecting its ability to meet treatment
needs.
June 23, 2011
Medicaid Caps
Letter urging opposition to any deficit reduction agreement that
would significantly cut, block, grant or impose harmful spending
caps on Medicaid.
April 5, 2011
Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act Reauthorization
of 2011
Letter supporting the “Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act
Reauthorization of 2011,” which renews and strengthens the
commitment to critically important youth and college suicide
prevention programs administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental
Health Services Administration.
April 1, 2011
Behavioral Health Info Technology Act
Letter supporting S. 539, the “Behavioral Health Information
Technology Act of 2011,” a bill that extends the meaningful use
incentives in the HITECH act (for using technology that would
improve coordination of care) to mental health and substance abuse
providers and facilities.
March 11, 2011
Medicare 2011 Mental Health Modernization Act
Letter supporting the “Medicare Mental Health Modernization Act of
2011” which addresses limitations in the current mental health
benefit in Medicare affecting its ability to meet treatment needs.
February 11,
2011
Medicare Mental Health Inpatient Equity Act
Letter supporting the “Medicare Mental Health Inpatient Equity Act”
which eliminates discrimination against mental illness in Medicare
by eliminating the 190 day lifetime limit of inpatient psychiatric
hospital care, a limit not placed upon any other hospital settings.
February 11,
2011
Mental Health on Campus Improvement Act
Letter expressing support for the “Mental Health on Campus
Improvement Act” which assists universities in addressing the
growing mental health needs of their communities by providing grants
to eligible colleges for comprehensive behavioral health programs
February 9, 2011
Mental Health in Schools 2011 Act
Letter supporting the reintroduction of the “Mental Health in
Schools Act of 2011” which would expand the availability of
comprehensive school-based mental health services for students in
communities across America.
January 13, 2011
Safeguarding the Healthcare and Education
Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010
Letter opposing
H.R. 2, which would repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable
Care Act and the health reform parts of the Health Care and
Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010.
2010
Legislative Positions
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