OHIO

STPA Legislative Needs and Concerns

1. Sequence of Training
2. Mental Health Parity. OPA and the Coalition for Healthy Communities is involved in several parity bills. In the House and Senate there are complimentary versions of: a Comprehensive Mental Health Parity Bill that includes treatment for substance abuse, a Parity bill for PTSD and one for Autism. Committee hearings have been held on each of these but more hearings should be scheduled but have not. The Governor is considering how out front he should be on these bills, that are consistent with several of his campaign statements.
3. Healthcare Simplification Act was passed and signed by the Governor. This was an effort of the Healthcare Provider Coalition, with the Ohio State Medical Association taking the lead. It is intended to simplify and standardize contracting procedures and to insure that providers are given clear information about the fees they will be paid. Some of the elements of the proposed legislation that would have been most helpful were eliminated, making the final version somewhat less helpful. Still, it is a good step forward in gaining more transparency and consistency in the contracting process that providers go through.
4. RxP: OPA is working hard to pass legislation that would authorize appropriately trained psychologists to prescribe. We are doing this very much under the radar but we are making great progress.

20119 Farnsleigh Road, #202
Shaker Heights, OH 44122.

(t) 216-991-2928
(f) 216-751-4172

http://www.ohpsych.org/healthdisohio.aspx