APA Executive Director for Professional Practice Katherine C. Nordal, PhD, discussed implementation of health care reform during her opening address at the 30th annual State Leadership Conference.

Mark B. McClellan, MPA, MD, PhD, Director, Engelberg Center for Health Care Reform, Chair in Health Policy Studies, Brookings Institution, provided insight on how economics and other factors will drive health care reform.

Presenters Frank V. deGruy, MD; Robin Henderson, PsyD; Rebecca B. Chickey, MPH; and Elizabeth Winkelman, JD, PhD discussed the need for

greater collaboration among health care providers during the workshop on Integrated Care in Hospitals and Health Systems.

Senior Special Counsel for the APA Practice Organization Alan Nessman, JD, addressed privacy, confidentiality and security concerns during the session

on electronic health records.

In order to effect change, said Arthur C. Evans, Jr., PhD, Commissioner for the Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disabilities Services in

PA, “know where the decisions are made at the local level.”

Stephen R. Gillaspy, PhD, shared the story of getting health and behavior (H&B) codes accepted in Oklahoma during the featured presentation on

expanding psychology’s participation in Medicaid.

Marilyn Richmond, JD, assistant executive director for government relations presents the award for the APA Practice Organization’s (APAPO) Outstanding

Federal Advocacy Coordinator to Janet Hibel, PhD, of Florida for her dedication to grassroots efforts and advocacy.

Speaker Tina Kotek (D-OR) accepts the APAPO State Legislator of the Year Award for her longstanding support of mental health issues.

Washington State Psychological Association members met with staff for Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA) to discuss unnecessary physician supervision

requirements due to the exclusion of psychologists from Medicare’s physician definition.

Cathleen Rea, PhD, of the Virginia Psychological Association shakes hands with Rep. Scott Rigell (R-VA) before meeting with a staffer to discuss

psychologists’ eligibility for incentive payments to set up electronic health records.

Members of the North Carolina Psychological Association share fact sheets with the senior legislative aide for Rep. Watt (D-NC) highlighting APAPO’s

three key legislative advocacy messages.

Andrea Kozak Miller, PhD, and APAPO Board of Directors member Jennifer Kelly, PhD, ABPP, share information from their meetings with APAPO government relations staff at the Capitol Hill visit debriefing session.

Photo credit: Gediyon Kife