Psychologists and other mental health providers face a myriad of issues as they try to continue to provide high quality services. Some of the key issues facing healthcare professionals including calls for greater accountability, changes in how health care is delivered and changes in rules and regulations that affect healthcare, will be outlined, along with the efforts by the American Psychological Association and the American Psychological Association Practice Organization to address these issues so that psychologists and mental health providers can continue doing the work they love. The particular importance of advocacy and leadership will be highlighted in the opening hour before the presenter segues to more detailed presentations about two key areas affecting participants.

Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) are increasingly prevalent in health care and are produced by many organizations, including those under development by APA. Many mental health professionals are unfamiliar with how CPGs are developed and used in health care. The presenter will describe best practices in guideline development and the steps APA is taking to develop high quality clinical practice guidelines. The presenter will discuss how CPGs are used in different health care settings and for individual decision making to determine offered services, access to care and other important issues.

Finally, the presenter will provide an overview of the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Diseases (ICD); an introduction to the ICD-10-CM set of diagnostic codes that will be required for billing and health information in the U.S. on 10/1/2015; and a preview of ICD-11 which is currently under development. Participants will learn about the current diagnostic code sets in use in the United States and how that is distinguished from the DSM-5. Participants will learn some of the top-level changes in diagnoses with the publication of the DSM-5 and the implications for practice. Participants will discuss changes and trends in diagnostic assessment and the connection to the provision of quality care. Attendees will have opportunities to ask questions and engage in discussion throughout the program.

Learning Objectives: Participants wil be able to:

• Describe two benefits of including psychologists in the physician definition.
  
  
• Recognize how accountability efforts can directly impact time spent providing psychological services.
  
  
• Describe the changing roles of psychologists as health care service delivery changes. 
   
  
• Understand the important role of CPGs in determining health care resources and access.
  
  
• Recognize how CPGs are used in different care settings to address different needs.
  
  
• Understand the coding format of the new ICD-10-CM and how to locate diagnostic codes.
  
  
• Identify the most important feature for clinicians in the forthcoming ICD-11.
  
  
• Know what diagnostic code set to use in health care settings.
  
  
• Describe the differences between ICD and DSM and their purposes in diagnostic classification.

About the Speaker:

Dr. Lynn F. Bufka is Assistant Executive Director, Practice Research and Policy, at the American Psychological Association. The Practice Research and Policy Department in the Practice Directorate focuses on the development and implementation of programs and policies related to expanding opportunities for professional psychology. 

Current areas of emphasis are the integration of psychology in the health care delivery system, diagnostic and functional classification, clinical practice guideline development, outcomes measurement and attendant issues and gathering “real world” practitioner information to enhance communication between the Practice Directorate and practitioners. Current projects include the development of clinical practice guidelines, directing an internet based survey system and overseeing professional psychology’s participation in national developments related to electronic health records. From 2002-2006, Dr. Bufka was the Director of Demonstration Projects within the same department. Prior to this, she was affiliated with Boston University and the Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders (CARD) (1996-2002), serving as Associate Director of the doctoral clinical training program and Director of Practica Training at CARD. 

Dr. Bufka is certified in the delivery of Panic Control Therapy and has extensive experience in the delivery and evaluation of cognitive behavioral therapy for all the anxiety disorders. Dr. Bufka has a long standing interest in cross cultural psychology, particularly matters related to immigration and adjustment. Dr. Bufka received her PhD in psychology from Boston University in 1996.