Posted By Editor on February 20, 2010
There is no THEY, only US AND WE: CPA BOARD MEETING 2/6/09, by Dr. Linda Schneider
The first CPA Board Meeting of 2010 was held in Burbank February 6. I was there as SMCPA’s new rep to the Board. The Board has 39 voting members of which I am now one. Dr Ednal Esnil (Menlo Park) attended, representing Division 7. Dr. Janet Hurwitz (Berkeley), our new CPA President, began the meeting with “There is no They only US and We.” She emphasized that it is not ‘THEY’ who do the work of CPA member or not.….It is all of US together that account for what gets done.
The following is some of what WE covered in the full day meeting: legislative and related issues, briefs from our executive director, goals of our new president, and the upcoming convention.
These are some of the legislative and related issues CPA continues to address tirelessly:
1. Improving lobbying presence.
CPA is the only entity that can and does lobby for California Psychologists.
2. The Sunseting of the BOP will again need to be addressed in 2010.
CPA has successfully fought this (and our governor’s attempt to push this) in previous years. Without the BOP we could be blended with the Board that licenses MFT’s, which would (not maybe) have implications for our reimbursements with insurance companies.
3. A Class Action Suit is in process against Blue Cross/Blue Shield for underpaying non-MD providers (that includes us) and for fishy calculating of reasonable and customary fees.
4. Hospital practice.
5. Keeping a watchful eye on LMFTs’ and Psychiatrists’ attempts to expand practice areas (this may not be a Zen attitude….but it may effect your revenue potential)
6. RX privileges.
7 Joining with Primary Care Associations to increase the number of psychologists in primary care settings.
8. PARITY…Regulations are just now in. CPA is keeping abreast of IMPLEMENTATION and continued definition of these regs with ‘US’ in the trenches in mind.
Still not convinced that WE need CPA to watch our back?
Let me just detail the class action suit above to exemplify work being done by CPA on our behalf. Our Professional Practice person Chuck Faltz, hearing of a similar suit in the east.. gathered evidence and secured one of the best Class Action Firms ON CONTINGENCY (no cost to US) to take this case forward. It has now been established that a crime has been committed by Blue Cross/Blue Shield. Harm to CPA and to individual psychologists is being ascertained. The suit is now in the discovery phase; depositions will be taken probably later this year. And in the end, some guidelines as well as more reasonable reimbursements may follow, as well as some sort of settlement. This suit will set a precedent for other insurance companies to follow in the present circus of reasonable and customary fee calculation.
Executive Director Jo Linder-Crow Ph.D. discussed the following points:
REDUCED FEES FOR NEW MEMBERS:
First year member fee is $133. This is less than 33 cents/day. Second year membership is $205. New doctorates have a 5 year reduced fee…and students also have a reduced fee.
CPA BENEFITS:
Free CE Credit (check the CPA website and the California Psychologist Magazine).
Free consultation on any Ethics issue with M. Donner, and free consultation on any issues of professional practice with Chuck Faltz. I have used this latter service with better than expected—no, with excellent and timely results! As a member you can be on the CPA list serve and post practice questions. Check the CPA website members only section for contact information
CPA Linked-In site. A CPA Facebook presence is in the works.
CPA BUDGET: Unlike several non profits, CPA was fiscally sound in 2009 and continues to be, due to an eye on the budget, wise investing, and cost cutting measures
Our CPA President, JANET HURWITZ, OUTLINED HER GOALS FOR THE COMING YEAR:
1.Increasing visibility of Psychologists to the public.
Public education including a now-working relationship with the YMCA, which gives a public face to Psychologists with the Y’s millions of members for local and other events.
2 Living diversity will include areas previously not engaging our focus, such as aging, bilingual presentations to the community, and LGBT education sessions at the convention.
3. Reviving the ailing CPA speakers Bureau (if interested stay tuned)
4. Developing diverse revenue streams. This includes learning from other nonprofits…and partnering with individuals and businesses.
5. Improving lobbying. Power in numbers.
6. 10% increase in CPA membership.
7. Receiving feedback from Psychologists in Education, Public Service, and Research members and nonmembers to make CPA more relevant to those sectors.
The CPA Convention will be April 15-18 in Costa Mesa, a nice beach community in Orange County not far from Disneyland and South Coast Plaza. The Hilton Hotel, the host hotel, is conveniently located across from Orange County Airport (formerly known as John Wayne Airport). The speakers and workshops this year are exciting. Here is just a taste of programming: CPA Annual Lunch (Saturday): Chip Conley, Author of PEAK: How Great Companies Get Their Mojo from Maslow. Daniel J. Siegel, MD (Sunday): Author and Executive Director, Mindsight Institute, UCLA. As a member you should have received or will receive shortly the Program for the Convention. If a nonmember you can view the program on the CPA website.
So in closing I want to stress that if you want a voice…an advocate…and you want that advocate to be as strong as it can be…you will join CPA. So click on http://www.cpapsych.org/ and join.
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