Dear Div. 20 members,
Below is an interesting e-mail string, which I presume is one of the shoes starting to fall due to the push towards use of biomarkers for the dx of early dementia. Though this particular battle is not yet lost, it would not have been even considered only a few years ago. Welcome to the future.
-Cameron
-----Original Message-----
From: Rose, Jonathon <Jonathon.Rose@VA.GOV>
To: WVUGER-L <WVUGER-L@listserv.wvu.edu>
Sent: Wed, Jul 6, 2011 2:07 pm
Subject: [SECT2] FW: WPS new restrictions on NP testing for CMS patients
The list's administrators are David Loring (dloring@emory.edu) and Laura Howe (lauralshowe@yahoo.com).
The Clinical Geropsychology listserv is available only to members of APA Division 12 Section II, Clinical Geropsychology (www.geropsychology.org /). TO POST to the group, email WVUGER-L@listserv.wvu.edu. TO REPLY to individuals (backchannel), PLEASE delete the listserv address and insert the individual's email address. To REMOVE yourself from the list, view ARCHIVES, or change your SETTINGS, go to http://listserv.wvu.edu/archives/wvuger-l.html
From: Rose, Jonathon <Jonathon.Rose@VA.GOV>
To: WVUGER-L <WVUGER-L@listserv.wvu.edu>
Sent: Wed, Jul 6, 2011 2:07 pm
Subject: [SECT2] FW: WPS new restrictions on NP testing for CMS patients
More on this topic:
Jon
Jon Rose, Ph.D.
VA Palo Alto Health Care System
650-493-5000 x 64334
From: owner-RehabPsych@lists.acs.ohio-state.edu [mailto:owner-RehabPsych@lists.acs.ohio-state.edu] On Behalf Of PAUL RICHARDS
Sent: Wednesday, July 06, 2011 10:25 AM
To: rehabpsych@lists.acs.ohio-state.edu
Subject: RE: WPS new restrictions on NP testing for CMS patients
Sent: Wednesday, July 06, 2011 10:25 AM
To: rehabpsych@lists.acs.ohio-state.edu
Subject: RE: WPS new restrictions on NP testing for CMS patients
Hi all,
NAN's Practice Affairs & Information Comm. (PAIC) that I co-chair along with Brenda Austin, Ph.D. has been very involved with this matter; plz see the following info. that will appear in this month's NAN 'Newsflash'
An interorganizational team of neuropsychologists (from AACN, APA div 40 and NAN) has been in communication with the medical director of WPS since prior to the public release of this draft LCD, including attending the last open meeting discussing this LCD. They have strongly expressed concerns and are currently involved in writing a completely new LCD that is consistent with research and common practice in neuropsychology at the request of the WPS medical director, Dr. Boren. In addition, they are reaching out to physician groups for their support of this new LCD or at least objection to the draft one, as no Neurologist we have spoken to feels qualified to provide neuropsych feedback (for example). Teresa Deer, Ph.D. is the contact person/designee from NAN. More information on how practioners can voice their opinion on this will be coming prior to the end of the comment period, which is August 1.
thanks,
Paul M. Richards, Ph.D.
Licensed Psychologist
Clinical Neuropsychologist
303-499-3836
NAN's Practice Affairs & Information Comm. (PAIC) that I co-chair along with Brenda Austin, Ph.D. has been very involved with this matter; plz see the following info. that will appear in this month's NAN 'Newsflash'
An interorganizational team of neuropsychologists (from AACN, APA div 40 and NAN) has been in communication with the medical director of WPS since prior to the public release of this draft LCD, including attending the last open meeting discussing this LCD. They have strongly expressed concerns and are currently involved in writing a completely new LCD that is consistent with research and common practice in neuropsychology at the request of the WPS medical director, Dr. Boren. In addition, they are reaching out to physician groups for their support of this new LCD or at least objection to the draft one, as no Neurologist we have spoken to feels qualified to provide neuropsych feedback (for example). Teresa Deer, Ph.D. is the contact person/designee from NAN. More information on how practioners can voice their opinion on this will be coming prior to the end of the comment period, which is August 1.
thanks,
Paul M. Richards, Ph.D.
Licensed Psychologist
Clinical Neuropsychologist
303-499-3836
Date: Wed, 6 Jul 2011 11:52:03 -0400
From: landjo5@aol.com
To: RehabPsych@lists.acs.ohio-state.edu
Subject: Re: WPS new restrictions on NP testing for CMS patients
From: landjo5@aol.com
To: RehabPsych@lists.acs.ohio-state.edu
Subject: Re: WPS new restrictions on NP testing for CMS patients
The list's administrators are David Loring (dloring@emory.edu) and Laura Howe (lauralshowe@yahoo.com).
Send an email to Laura Howe to get on the list. I might recommend the digest version, as there are a large number of posts each day.
Julia
Julia O. Land, PsyD, CRC
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Clinical Instructor
Department of Neurology
Emory University
(404) 728-4553
-----Original Message-----
From: Lifshutz, Harold PhD <Harold.Lifshutz@nbhn.net>
To: 'RehabPsych@lists.acs.ohio-state.edu' <RehabPsych@lists.acs.ohio-state.edu>
Sent: Wed, Jul 6, 2011 11:20 am
Subject: RE: WPS new restrictions on NP testing for CMS patients
From: Lifshutz, Harold PhD <Harold.Lifshutz@nbhn.net>
To: 'RehabPsych@lists.acs.ohio-state.edu' <RehabPsych@lists.acs.ohio-state.edu>
Sent: Wed, Jul 6, 2011 11:20 am
Subject: RE: WPS new restrictions on NP testing for CMS patients
how does one get on the neuropsyc list?
hl
From: owner-RehabPsych@lists.acs.ohio-state.edu [mailto:owner-RehabPsych@lists.acs.ohio-state.edu] On Behalf Of Blair, Kelly
Sent: Wednesday, July 06, 2011 9:10 AM
To: RehabPsych@lists.acs.ohio-state.edu
Subject: RE: WPS new restrictions on NP testing for CMS patients
Sent: Wednesday, July 06, 2011 9:10 AM
To: RehabPsych@lists.acs.ohio-state.edu
Subject: RE: WPS new restrictions on NP testing for CMS patients
This topic has received a fair amount of discussion on the Neuropsych list run by Loring/Howe. Not sure if you are on that list or not.
Kelly Blair
Jackson, Tn
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-RehabPsych@lists.acs.ohio-state.edu [mailto:owner-RehabPsych@lists.acs.ohio-state.edu] On Behalf Of Nancy Merbitz
Sent: Tuesday, July 05, 2011 7:39 PM
To: RehabPsych@lists.acs.ohio-state.edu; div38hbc@lists.apa.org; DIV38@lists.apa.org
Subject: WPS new restrictions on NP testing for CMS patients
From: owner-RehabPsych@lists.acs.ohio-state.edu [mailto:owner-RehabPsych@lists.acs.ohio-state.edu] On Behalf Of Nancy Merbitz
Sent: Tuesday, July 05, 2011 7:39 PM
To: RehabPsych@lists.acs.ohio-state.edu; div38hbc@lists.apa.org; DIV38@lists.apa.org
Subject: WPS new restrictions on NP testing for CMS patients
Were others aware that WPS (Medicare contractor for IL, WI and several other states) has a draft policy initiating new restrictions on neuropsychological testing, i.e. 1.) that psychologists in private practice will not be authorized to provide feedback to patients after neuropsychological testing, but must rather send their report to the referring physician who is then authorized to provide said feedback, and 2.) that neuropsychological testing is not authorized for anyone in early or later stages of Alzheimers (FAST scale 3 or higher)? See first two links for the policy plus billing guidelines (which are quite specific in forbidding feedback by anyone but the referring physician), and third link for commentary by the AACN. I wonder if APA is organizing any central response. This looks to be an assault on the autonomy and professionalism of psychologists performing neuropsychological testing, and with respect to Alzheimer's, seems to show considerable ignorance about the current state of diagnostic science for Alzheimers, i.e. what, other than neuropsychological testing, will currently determine if someone has Alzheimer's, and what, other than neuropsychological testing, will provide a sensitive indicator of any future treatments? It's hard to imagine what is behind this policy change other than sheer turfism, against which we appear quite helpless.
Sheesh.
Nancy Hansen Merbitz, Ph.D.
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Merbitz Health & Wellness Services
521 W. Grove St.
Pontiac, IL 61764
708-567-6778
hansennancykay@aol.com
Merbitz Health & Wellness Services
521 W. Grove St.
Pontiac, IL 61764
708-567-6778
hansennancykay@aol.com
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