The Membership Committee has been working hard to identify  the best way for OPPA to offer value to its members and appeal to residents and other potential new members.  We continue to evaluate the survey results in an effort to best serve our  members. After much work on our survey, it is apparent many are seeking to network and socialize with other psychiatrists in our community.
 
To that end, October 14 is our Second Annual Resident Social.  It will be co-hosted by the OPPA and Mind Matters PC, and is an event  for residents and fellows to get to know some of the psychiatrists in our community  We invite all residents at Good Samaritan and OHSU, as well as OPPA members that have experience in specific areas that the residents have mentioned are of interest to them. It is a fun evening to meet members of the  OPPA, make new friends and take advantage of the opportunity to network with your peers.  There will be drinks and hearty appetizers, socializing and a brief welcome and introduction period. If you are interested in attending, feel free to reach out  to the Membership Committee so we may include you.
 
We also got  feedback during our survey that members would like some sort of roster to facilitate members reaching out to other members. The Membership Committee is working to put together a roster. We do not have a time frame but stay tuned for a roster coming soon.
 
We are also looking for a few members to join the Membership Committee, specifically Early Career Psychiatrists.  We know  it is a challenge for ECPs to make time for a new commitment when they are already managing a career, potentially balancing a new family, new home and community,  but that it is exactly why we need ECP representation. Not only is this an opportunity to help us better serve ECPs, but a great way for you to have your voice heard and be involved in the  Psychiatric community.  Please consider joining the Membership Committee.  We meet monthly in Hillsboro, video conferencing is available for those who cannot join in person, and a meal is included, generously offered by Dave Conant-Norville, our committee chair.
 
Please feel free to reach out to our committee if you have any input, suggestions or are interested in joining the  committee.  Contact Dave Conant-Norville MD at drdave@mindmatterspc.com or Jennifer Boverman at Jennifer@oregonpsychiatric.org.
 
Jennifer Boverman
Membership Coordinator
 
 

Area 7 Report
The Area 7 Council , which is composed of representatives from the 13 District Branches (DBs)in the far west of the United States (excluding California) met in August.  Several themes amongst the various DBs emerged from this meeting:

• Scope: psychologist prescribing passed in Iowa and Illinois, and was defeated in Hawaii.
• Member recruitment: several DB’s working on this including calling the drop list and providing a variety of events for members to interact with each other.
• Physician burn-out:  several DB’s discussed how isolating it is to be in a busy / overwhelmed practice and the need for more support after an adverse event like a physician suicide.  One DB is helping implement the American Medical Association burnout evaluation and prevention program (StepsForward) in their area. See: https://www.stepsforward.org/modules/physician-burnout
• Services for rural areas:  one DB has noticed an increase in psychiatrists working in their underserved area after participating in a residency program located there.  The group discussed more ways to help serve underserved areas including the use of telemedicine and a program called Project ECHO (Extension for Community Health Outcomes) which has been developed in New Mexico.  See:  http://echo.unm.edu/

 
Support for MACRA Changes Available from APA
The Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) transforms the payment and quality programs for Medicare Part B physician services by replacing the old sustainable growth rate (SGR) with a stable update system.  Right now this is scheduled to go into effect as of January 2017.  APA has developed a web page devoted to the implementation of MACRA which includes a webinar and more to come as this gets closer. See: https://www.psychiatry.org/psychiatrists/practice/practice-management/coding-reimbursement-medicare-and-medicaid/payment-reform
 
American Psychiatric Association to Fund a Registry
Changes to health care delivery as a result of the Affordable Care Act will require improvement in quality of care, while at the same time reducing costs. With an increasing national focus on quality and cost, the opportunity to leverage clinical registries to improve outcomes and appropriate utilization has never been greater. The AMA believes that the establishment of a registry will assist members in meeting these new requirements and is an investment for the future of the profession of psychiatry.
Establishing a registry will also help members comply with Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) & Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) requirements and avoid penalties, which began in 2016 (2%) and will increase to 9% in 2022. A registry would also allow members to submit performance and practice data from the registry for Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Part IV credit.  A registry will provide a national research data base with aggregate de-identified data to help improve patient outcomes, develop new diagnostics and therapeutics, develop practice guidelines, identify gaps in care and inform APA educational programs, and support advocacy initiatives.  It will also allow the APA to develop new psychiatric quality measures (with funding from CMS until 2019).
 

What’s New at the APA
 

• APA President Maria A. Oquendo, M.D. authored a blog post on why adhering to the so-called “Goldwater Rule” is so important, particularly this election season. The post drew major interest from national news outlets such as the Washington Post. You can read Dr. Oquendo’s Goldwater Rule post here.
•  APA President-Elect Anita Everett, M.D. was named Chief Medical Officer at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Dr. Everett’s office at SAMSHA will provide input into strategic initiatives, policy directions and legislative issues, ensuring that  ensure effective, evidence-based approaches to behavioral health services are incorporated in SAMSHA programs. You can read more about Dr. Everett’s new role at SAMSHA here.
• Advance registration for IPS: The Mental Health Services Conference ends on September 15th. You can get more information on IPS and register for the meeting here.

 
Mark Your Calendar
 

• National Recovery Month
• National Traumatic Brain Injury Awarness Month
• Suicide Prevention Week (August 5-11)
• World Alzheimer’s Month

 
September Members’ Course of the Month: Advances in Therapeutic Interventions in Geriatric Psychiatry
Each month, members receive free access to a CME course on a trending topic. Most take less than 30 minutes to complete, perfect for over lunch. The September course is Advances in Therapeutic Interventions in Geriatric Psychiatry: Neuromodulation in the Treatment of Geriatric Psychiatric Disorders. Take the course today and view the upcoming Members’ Course schedule.
 
Psychopharmacology Designed with You in Mind
 
APA is offering two courses for M.D.s, D.O.s, N.P.s, R.N.s and others looking for updates about best practices in treating patients with psychiatric diagnoses in multiple settings, including primary care. As a special offering, these two courses are being offered a la carte (full meeting registration not required). The courses are: Essential Psychopharmacology ($440) and Child Psychopharmacology for the Adult Psychiatrist ($235). Space is limited, so register today at psychiatry.org/ips. 
 
New 100% Club Benefits for Residents and their Program Directors
Becoming a member of the 2016-2017 100% Club comes with exciting new benefits, including more day-to-day value for residents and their program directors. Programs with at least 80% of their residents as members are eligible for 100% Club benefits. To find out where your program stands, contact Claire VanWagner at  cvanwagner@psych.org.
 
IPS to Feature Collaborative Care Simulation Lab
Interested in collaborative care? This year’s IPS meeting is a can’t miss opportunity to immerse yourself in the care model. The Collaborative Care Simulation Lab will allow participants to gain an in-depth understanding of collaborative care systems by acting as case manager for fictional patients. The simulation will guide you through the differences in psychiatric practices with new models of integration through large group discussions and small group collaborations. IPS: The Mental Health Services Conference will be held October 6-9 in Washington, D.C. Register Today.