2009 News for Practitioners

• Revised Guidelines Address Child Custody Evaluations
• APA Practice Organization Becomes Involved in Class Action Litigation

  The New Jersey Psychological Association (NJPA) is poised to become a named plaintiff in nationwide class action litigation against Aetna. The APA Practice Organization (APAPO) is working closely with outside counsel and NJPA to provide extensive legal, policy, communications and other support for this legal action.

• Congress Combines Medicare and Health Care Reform

  The APA Practice Organization is cultivating opportunities to take advocacy messages on behalf of professional psychology to Congress as it prepares to combine Medicare and health care reform into a single legislative package.

• Call for Comments on Proposed Pharmacological Guidelines

  The Board of Professional Affairs (BPA) is seeking comments by August 1 on proposed Guidelines Regarding Psychologists' Involvement in Pharmacological Issues drafted by the APA Division 55 Task Force on Practice Guidelines.

• Tips on Fostering Resilience in Tough Times
• APA-YMCA Partnership Helps Families Focus on Healthy Lifestyles

  The APA and YMCA are teaming up to impart to families the importance of lifestyle and behaviors to physical and mental health.

• Medicare Administrative Contractors Require Additional Data to Verify Identity

  Psychologists and their staff who call their Medicare Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system or a customer service representative now have to provide three types of information to verify their identity.

• Hundreds of Psychology Leaders Call on Congress

  Nearly 600 psychology leaders from the U.S. and Canada participated in the 2009 APA Practice Organization State Leadership Conference (SLC). The conference culminated in more than 300 meetings of SLC participants with their members of Congress and staff on Capitol Hill.

• Guidance for Psychologists on "Red Flag Rules" Compliance

  The "Red Flag Rules" from the Federal Trade Commission take effect on May 1, 2009. Some psychologists may need to comply with the rules, which are intended to reduce identity theft.

• FTC Delays Red Flags Rule Enforcement Until August 1

  The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) just announced that it will delay enforcement of the Red Flags Rule for three months until August 1, 2009 in order to give creditors and practitioners additional time to develop written identity theft programs.

• APA Poll Find Economic Stress Taking a Toll on Men

  Economic pressures are having an increasing impact on men aged 35 to 54, according to an April 2009 survey by the American Psychological Association

• Managing Anxiety About the Flu Outbreak

  The constant news reports in the preceding week about the H1N1 (swine flu) outbreak have fueled a spike in anxiety among the public. Psychologists can help clients and others parse out fact from fiction and be prepared to address questions and concerns.

• Veterans Affairs Psychology Leadership Conference Highlights VA Health Care

  The 12th annual Veterans Affairs (VA) Psychology Leadership Conference attracted a record turnout of more than 160 Department of Veterans Affairs psychology leaders.