The first 20 years
By Alan Bodnar Ph.D.
Last month marked the twentieth anniversary of New England Psychologist. This month is the twentieth anniversary of this column. It started with a telephone call from the publisher and an invitation to write a column about the day-to-day experiences of a psychologist and the reflections to which these experiences gave rise. And so we called the column, In Person. In all that I have written, I have always intended and hoped that my experiences would reflect yours as we journeyed together through our changing personal and professional lives. If you are reading these words in the later stages of your [More]
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The Affordable Care Act: What it means for psychologists
By Phyllis Hanlon
The Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act has given the green light for partial application now with full implementation of the law slated for 2015. While the Affordable Care Act (ACA) provides more Americans with insurance coverage, including equal access to medical and mental health services, the role psychologists will play in the delivery of services remains unclear. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the ACA eliminates coverage exclusion due to pre-existing conditions; removes annual or lifetime caps on coverage; forbids rescinding coverage; and creates a basic benefit package [More]
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ACOs hope to save money
By Phyllis Hanlon
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act represents one of the most ambitious health care reform initiatives this country has experienced. One of the law’s provisions calls for the creation of Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), systems that aim to provide improved care coordination and save money through better health management and preventative strategies. The ACO concept originated in March 2011 when the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) proposed a set of rules that would provide complete and coordinated care for Medicare recipients. Under a collaborative system, providers, practices and hospitals work together to treat a patient across several [More]
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Active shooter trainer: a good idea?
By Janine Weisman
What should you do if a gunman suddenly bursts into your school or workplace? The conventional answer has long been lockdown: hide quietly, lock or barricade doors, turn off lights and equipment and wait for police. But that passive response frustrates many as mass shootings – and anxiety about public and personal safety – continue to increase. Newer emergency response training programs teach participants to consider ways of fighting back against a shooter. School officials in Canton, Mass., recently implemented an active shooter training program for students and staff known as A.L.i.C.E. (Alert Lockdown Inform Counter Evacuate) that covers how [More]
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CPT code changes implemented in January
By Phyllis Hanlon
As of January 1, psychologists nation-wide have a new practice issue with which to contend. After conducting its routine five-year review, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have made some changes to current procedural terminology (CPT) psychotherapy codes. Appropriate use of these new codes will mean the difference between reimbursement for services billed and denials. According to the American Psychological Association Practice Organization (APAPO), many diagnostic and therapeutic services bear new code numbers and the existing numbers for these services will no longer be used, although the basic services will remain the same. Specifically, three new psychotherapy codes [More]
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MNS and MPA collaboration: a model for other organizations
By Phyllis Hanlon
The October 2012 issue of New England Psychologist reported on the passage of “An Act Improving the Quality of Health Care and Reducing Costs Through Increased Transparency, Efficiency and Innovation,” legislation largely due to the joint advocacy of the Massachusetts Neuropsychological Society (MNS) and the Massachusetts Psychological Association (MPA). The groups’ unified front not only served as a driving force in passing this bill, but has also become a prime example of professional cooperation. According to Michelle L. Imber, Ph.D., ABPP, a private practitioner in Boston and consultant for disability determination services, MNS and MPA have cooperated on issues for [More]
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Use of ECT on the rise?
By Catherine Robertson Souter
Practice trends at odds with study results For a treatment that’s existed for nearly a century, the function of electroconvulsive therapy, or ECT, is still somewhat of a mystery. Researchers are at a loss to explain why sending an electronic current through the brain, causing a convulsion similar to a grand mal epileptic seizure, relieves acute feelings of depression. Once known as “shock therapy” or “electric shock treatment,” ECT began in the 1930s when psychiatrists in Italy noticed that schizophrenic patients improved temporarily after a spontaneous seizure. Early attempts at replicating the effect with patients were partially successful and the [More]
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Clinical trial for GAD treatment underway
By Pamela Berard
Researchers at Connecticut’s Hartford Hospital Institute of Living are conducting a clinical trial to investigate the use of neuronavigation in combination with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to treat generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). TMS – an FDA-approved treatment for depression – delivers magnetic pulses to the surface of a patient’s scalp. Typically, a standardized measurement is used to figure out where to place the magnetic coil; but with neuronavigation, the Institute of Living is determining the location to administer treatment by using each person’s unique brain scan. “The neuronavigation uses the patient’s MRI, so we can actually say, ‘Here’s the area [More]
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Arts participation linked to higher rates of teen depression
By Janine Weisman
Teens involved in after-school arts activities report more depressive symptoms than those participating in only sports according to a study published last November in the American Psychological Association’s journal “Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity and the Arts.” Boston College researchers assessed how frequently 15-and 16-year old respondents experienced poor appetite, difficulty concentrating, depressed mood, lack of energy/motivation, poor sleep and sadness. Girls were more likely to take part in the arts after school and reported slightly higher rates of depression. Adolescents involved in the arts had higher verbal IQ and working memory scores than those not involved. Studies have shown a [More]
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Pro-ana Web sites pose risks
By Janine Weisman
Type “thinspiration” into Google’s blog search: 320,000 results appear. The phrase appears over images of bone-thin women posted on Pinterest, Tumblr, Youtube and other platforms offering encouragement to be ultra thin. These easily accessible pro-anorexia or pro-ana Web sites pose serious risks to young people with eating disorders, a United Kingdom review finds. “Virtually Anorexic – Where’s the Harm?” examined 126 non-password protected pro-eating disorder Web sites and online communities that promote dangerous advice such as recommending a daily intake of 400-500 calories, and encouraging bullying and competitive behavior to eat less. About 90 percent of sites analyzed contained thinspiration [More]
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