Public Policy Highlights from 2013 Annual Conference

PRA’s 2013 Annual Conference in Atlanta highlighted several important public policy issues through engaging presentations and discussion. Cherilyn Cepriano, PRA’s VP of public policy, led an interactive discussion of key issues facing the PRA community including:

1. Implementation of the Affordable Care Act - ranging from the expansion of Medicaid and the creation of Exchange marketplaces for health insurance purchase for individuals and small business

2. Demonstration projects in Medicaid focused on managed care and the dually eligible for Medicare

3. Continued budget pressures that will lean on discretionary spending such as SAMHSA and grant programs, and may well place increased pressure on mandatory budget spending of the major health care entitlement programs that are Medicaid and Medicare

In public policy discussions, PRA highlighted the importance of spreading acceptance and utilization of the Certified Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner (CPRP) credential across the states, and PRA is pleased to announce that Oklahoma will be the 16th state to accept or utilize the CPRP in formal law or regulation.

PRA took a deeper dive into the subject of integrated care with a panel of PRA leaders in the field, facilitated by Cepriano; Mark Ishaug, MA, CEO, Thresholds, and David Pilon, PhD, CPRP, PRA Board Member and President and CEO, Mental Health America Los Angeles. Ishaug and Pilon shared with the group the importance of their respective organizations’ focus on advocacy as well as their concepts for moving forward in the dynamic health care climate created under the Affordable Care Act. Following an interactive discussion with our executive audience, the group consensus was clear: PRA members must think creatively about their business and system delivery model in the face of changing health systems and increasing integration of care with a focus on primary care and preventative services.