The U.S. Health and Human Services Department lists a lot of information relevant to recent changes in federal and state policies since the public health emergency declaration in 2020. Below are links to some of the types of information available at the HHS website.

The federal government has taken steps to make providing and receiving care through telehealth easier. These are temporary measures under the COVID-19 public health emergency declaration and are subject to change. https://www.phe.gov/emergency/news/healthactions/phe/Pages/covid19-07Jan2021.aspx

HIPAA flexibility for telehealth technology  https://www.telehealth.hhs.gov/providers/policy-changes-during-the-covid-19-public-health-emergency/hipaa-flexibility-for-telehealth-technology/

Providers have more flexibility to use everyday technology for virtual visits during the COVID-19 public health emergency.

Medicare and Medicaid policies  https://www.telehealth.hhs.gov/providers/policy-changes-during-the-covid-19-public-health-emergency/medicare-and-medicaid-policies/

Federal COVID-19 waivers and regulatory changes now make it easier for providers to deliver telehealth services to Medicare and Medicaid patients.

Telehealth licensing requirements and interstate compacts   https://www.telehealth.hhs.gov/providers/policy-changes-during-the-covid-19-public-health-emergency/telehealth-licensing-requirements-and-interstate-compacts/

Providers can deliver telehealth services across state lines, depending on rules set by state and federal policies.

First, it describes various types of evidence-based models of care. Each description discusses the various staffing models for both mental health and substance use models of care. The report encompasses many but not all treatment settings and includes the providers necessary for operations. States may also have different staffing requirements from those provided in this report. There may be additional provider types, depending on state regulations, working in these settings that are not included in this report.

Second, the document estimates the number of providers needed for 13 different mental health care models inclusive of three models of care addressing the needs of children and youth with serious emotional disturbance (SED)/serious mental illness (SMI). Included in the discussion of mental health resource needs for children and youth are school-based mental health services.

Third, the report estimates the number of providers needed for three SUD models of care. Fourth, the document enumerates the supply and demand for each behavioral health occupation.

The report can be downloaded from: https://samhsa.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d0780dc94825e65acd61c17dc&id=a48c292127&e=ea27789c3e

* From the report foreword

By

Chelsey Mahler, Psy.D., DAPA Webpage & Membership Chair

It’s that time of year again – time to renew your annual membership in order to continue to receive the many benefits of being a member of the Dayton Area Psychological Association. Just to remind you, if you have not yet renewed, here are some valuable ways that DAPA membership can continue to benefit you.

• Attendance is FREE for members at most DAPA workshops, at least four per year of 3 CEUs or more each. That means you can easily earn 12 CEUs per year by attending our easily accessible workshops. During the time of COVID-19, we are offering these workshops virtually for your convenience and safety. We include at least one workshop per year that fulfills Ohio psychologists’ four hours of ethics/diversity requirements. Thus, as a registered DAPA member who attends all of our seminars, you can earn all of your required CEUs for the biennium!
• Our programs also always provide a unique opportunity to socialize and network with your area colleagues, which is not often easy to find in our busy work lives, particularly for those in solo practices! Members gain the professional advantage of sharing information about one another’s specialties, research, and programs as well as an opportunity to build personal connections with one another.
• DAPA members receive our newsletter, The Miami Valley Psychologist, for no additional cost, either via email or US postal service (your preference), which details our upcoming CEU workshop offerings, other DAPA events, recent OPA news, local member profiles, and other newsworthy items related to our profession, such as important legislative changes. We also allow members to place advertisements in our newsletter for FREE, such as offerings for therapeutic groups, announcements of open positions or available office space at one’s practice.
• We are particularly proud of the DAPA interactive website (www.daytonpsych.org), which features a chance to list your psychology practice and can filter the search by specialty areas so that colleagues and potential clients can find you and expedite appropriate referrals. This valuable service is provided for no extra charge with your DAPA membership!
• DAPA is continuing to grow and expand our involvement in the Dayton area community via various outreach activities. Although many events such as charitable walks for suicide prevention and autism awareness were canceled due to the pandemic, we were still able to donate funds to purchase Thanksgiving meals for families in the local community.

Considering all of these advantages, our membership fee of only $65 (and just $10 for Affiliates/Students) is a tremendous bargain! Our members receive more benefits and for a lower fee than do those in the other Ohio regional psychology associations. I hope you will renew your membership immediately and continue to receive these benefits of your membership with the Dayton Area Psychological Association. Please do not delay and complete the membership form on our website at https://www.daytonpsych.org/join-renew-dapa/. You can either pay with a credit card using PayPal on our website or by check and mail to the following address: DAPA, PO Box 751881, Dayton, Ohio, 45475-1881. 

by

Jessica Berndt, Ph.D.

DAPA President-Elect

Dayton Area Psychological Association (DAPA) is interested in serving your needs and interests.  Your opinions and ideas are an important part of our planning efforts.  To better understand what is expected of the association we created a quick survey for local psychologists  to complete.  We received 37 responses with 81 percent of those responses indicating membership with DAPA.  

54 percent of respondents indicated an interest in professional networking events and 19 percent reported an interest in social events. Respondents indicated that they are most interested in attending social and professional networking events on Friday evenings between every other month to twice a year. 

35 percent of respondents reported an interest in community service projects.  Respondents reported that they would like DAPA to be involved with community healing events (e.g., anniversary of tornadoes, shootings, etc.), have a presence at the pride parade, and demonstrate support for subcultural events (e.g., immigrant and refugee wellness, military veterans, etc.).  

97 percent of respondents reported continued interest in attending the CEU workshops There were a few respondents who indicated a preference of workshops outside of working hours, but the majority of respondents indicated Friday as the most preferred day.  Respondents reported that conflicting plans, busy schedules, and miscommunication were the reasons they have not attended a workshop in the past. 

Respondents are interested in hearing from DAPA about events and updates on a monthly basis. We appreciate your time and feedback in completing this survey, and we hope to improve the communication between the association and members.  The best way to ensure you receive updated information from DAPA is to ensure you have the correct e-mail address when you sign up for DAPA.  Also, be sure to read through the newsletters as important updates and the workshops are frequently announced in The Miami Valley Psychologist,

The psychology interjurisdictional compact (PSYPACT) is currently activated for the following 13 states:  Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Nevada, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Utah. (Although legislation has passed in Virginia and North Carolina it will not be in effect until 2021).  PSYPACT legislation is currently pending in the following 12 states:  Alabama, Hawaii, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, Ohio, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Washington, West Virginia and the District of Columbia.

For psychologists in states that are already part of the PSYPACT there is good news about costs to participate. A July 20, 2020, news release from the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards announced that the  Human Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded ASPPB federal funding to help provide support for the 2020 Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES). As a result of this funding, ASPPB will waive the $400 E.Passport application fee through December 31, 2020. 

PSYPACT legislation in Ohio was introduced in the Senate by Senator Theresa Gavarone in January 2020 and was passed by the Senate May 5, 2020 by a vote of 32-0.  The bill has been in the House Health Committee since June 3, 2020.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the American Psychological Association convention is going virtual this year.  Costs to attend are dramatically reduced. The costs will be:

1. APA member, fellow, associate, APA community college teacher affiliate, APA international affiliate: $50 (originally $315). 
2. APA student affiliate, APAGS member, APA high school teacher affiliate: $15 (originally $100)
3. Nonmember Full-time student: $30 (originally

$195)

4. Nonmember of APA: $75 (originally $495)

Registered convention attendees will have access to all

program content (e.g. video, slides, handouts, and/or

resource lists) for 12 months. A major change from past conventions is that no continuing education credits will be provided for attending the convention activities. Some divisions may be offering (separately from APA sponsored programs) continuing education programs.  Sessions will generally be shorter than those usually done at the convention.

More information and registration for the virtual convention is available at https://convention.apa.org/