As noted in the March President’s Letter, CPNP is making an increased commitment to government affairs and policy. Assisting us in this effort is The District Policy Group (DPG) at Drinker Biddle & Reath, based in Washington, DC. DPG will be providing strategic direction to CPNP’s government and regulatory affairs efforts that are targeted at moving the priorities of the Association forward and ensuring a positive impacat on federal regulations, statutes, and other governmental directives that affect the profession.
Introduction to District Policy Group
DPG offers a team of lobbyists and public policy professionals who have advanced client interests before the legislative and executive branches of government at the federal and state levels. Their bipartisan team has extensive experience in government relations, advocacy, Capitol Hill policy and politics, federal agency rulemaking, grassroots organizing, social media and coalition building. They are skilled at assisting not-for-profit and for-profit clients in understanding the political and policy landscape, and with that information, developing and achieving legislative and regulatory goals that help them to meet and grow their objectives. In addition, they assist clients in building direct, close, and productive relationships with Members of Congress, Congressional staff, federal agency officials, and key thought leaders.
Jeremy Scott, Senior Vice President of DPG, is CPNP’s lead DPG representative and will be joining us at this year’s CPNP Forum on our Future in Phoenix. Jeremy has nearly two decades of broadly ranging government relations and lobbying experience. He has particular skill and knowledge in strategic planning, the federal appropriations and authorization processes, planning and executing Hill Days, and developing grassroots and grasstops programs for patient advocacy groups. Before coming to DPG, Jeremy served as the first director of public policy for the national Tourette Syndrome Association (now known as TAA). Additionally, Jeremy served as a legislative associate with Kinghorn & Associates, LLC, a government consulting firm in Washington, D.C. and as a legislative correspondent and staff assistant for U.S. Senator Mike DeWine (R-OH)—focusing primarily on health issues.
CPNP’s Health Policy Agenda
As one of its first efforts, DPG assisted CPNP in establishing its 2017 Health Policy Agenda Priorities as follows:
Promote and improve patient safety by realizing the value and role that psychiatric and pharmacists play as providers in the health care delivery system: There is currently a lack of understanding in the health care delivery model for the important role that specialty pharmacists play in the care and treatment of patients with mental illness; specifically, the role of psychiatric pharmacists. Psychiatric pharmacists are essential partners on the patient care team. Their expertise is needed on the frontlines to optimize drug treatment and patient care for patients with mental illness.
Recognize the role of psychiatric pharmacists in addressing mental health access issues: Psychiatric pharmacists play a critical role in addressing the public health challenges associated with psychiatric medications. Psychiatric pharmacists are experts in mental health and addiction and pharmacotherapy, and can provide education, expertise, and knowledge to other health care professionals within a multidisciplinary team context. Psychiatric pharmacists may contribute to health care teams by detecting and resolving or preventing drug related problems; helping to ensure the safe and effective use of prescription drugs; providing comprehensive drug information to patients and other health care professionals; promoting medication adherence; and reinforcing primary prevention and health promotion and lifestyle modification activities in the community. Psychiatric pharmacists play a key role in caring for individuals with mental illness.
Improve patient access to mental health services: The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) expanded behavioral health coverage for millions of Americans. Unfortunately, many individuals with mental illness continue to lack adequate health insurance coverage or access to primary care due to inadequate mental health parity laws. CPNP believes that all individuals deserve access to affordable, meaningful health care coverage. Moreover, while approaches to address prevention, intervention, and treatment have improved, gaps in the mental health system continue to persist for youth, adults, and seniors. Patients with mental illness benefit when psychiatric pharmacists are involved in the delivery of their health care. Psychiatric pharmacists play a vital role in the delivery of mental health services.
Simultaneous to developing the 2017 Health Policy Agenda priorities, CPNP went to work on developing issue briefs with the first focused on presenting a picture of what a psychiatric pharmacist does and the value they bring to the treatment team working to help those living with mental illness. That issue brief can be viewed here. We encourage you to share it broadly when promoting the profession within your institutions, states, or wherever appropriate and beneficial. A second brief on the subject of Access to Mental Health Care is under development and should be available in April 2017.
CPNP thanks our prior consultant Carey Potter for her work and past achievements and is excited for the anticipated government affairs and policy successes yet to come.