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March, 2009 APA Board of Trustees Meeting Highlights
[Our summary of the unofficial report by John Chapman Urbaitis, M.D., Area 3 Trustee]
Advocacy for the profession
The Board approved the report of the Workgroup on Relationships between Psychiatrists and Pharmaceutical and Medical device industries. This report offers recommendations for physicians to maintain high awareness of potential conflicts of interest, and to maintain appropriate conduct to assure we act in the best interests of our patients.
The Board approved the report of the Workgroup in Financial Relationships between the APA and the Pharmaceutical Industry calling for a number of changes:
· Phasing out industry-supported symposia (ISS) at the annual meeting
· Eliminating industry-funded secondary educational materials related to ISS
· Eliminating the meals provided by pharma at educational activities
· Re-evaluating all fellowship programs, many of which have been funded by pharma.
Advocacy for patients/access to care
The Joint Reference Committee has approved the document, “Integrated Care of Older Adults.”
This report endorses coordination and integration of care, while pointing out the challenges. It includes recommendations for policy, service design, and training.
The Board approved a report on Integration of Psychiatry into Primary Care.
Budget and Finance
Preliminary figures for the close of 2008 indicate decreases in both revenues and expenses, with a net unrestricted income of more than $2.5 million. Reserves decreased about 25% in 2008. Trends include a decrease in publishing income, largely from reduced advertising income, a decrease in foundation income, and a decrease in meetings income. The APA is continuing to operate with careful monitoring of income and expenses, while retaining advocacy efforts and other necessary activities.
Governance Reorganization
The Board spent much of the meeting studying and discussing the report of the Work Group on Governance Reorganization, led by Alan Schatzberg, Chair, and Ron Burd, Vice-Chair. The work group started from the December 2008 Board approval of a $981,759 reduction in APA governance funding, and the Board decision to leave reserves untouched.
Since the December decision, the Board, Assembly and Joint Reference Committee have made significant changes to reduce expenses while maintaining needed functions. Meals and meetings have been reduced, and travel has been limited with more meetings using video/teleconference participation. The Board will not have its July meeting; the May meeting is expected to be a longer working meeting.
At its March 2009 meeting, the board voted for several changes in governance. Existing components will sunset at the 2009 annual meeting, with thanks and appreciation communicated to all who have volunteered in the work. Nine new Councils will be formed (with authority to convene work groups as needed), as follows:
· Council on Adult Psychiatry, which would consolidate the current work of the councils on Addiction Psychiatry, Aging and Psychosomatic Medicine. The composition would include individuals with expertise in these three specialty areas, who would be appointed by the APA President/President-Elect with input and consultation (as appropriate) with the president of each specialty.
· Council on Children, Adolescents and Their Families
· Council on Communications
· Council on Advocacy and Government Relations, which would consolidate the current work of the councils on Social Issues and Public Psychiatry, Global Psychiatry and Advocacy and Public Policy. The composition would include individuals with expertise in the three areas represented by the work of the councils that were consolidated.
· Council on Healthcare Systems and Financing
· Council on Minority Mental Health and Health Disparities
· Council on Psychiatry and Law
· Council on Medical Education and Lifelong Learning
· Council on Research and Quality Care, which would consolidate the current work of the councils on Research and Quality Care. The composition would include individuals with expertise in the two areas represented by the work of the councils that were consolidated.
Please note that the Council on Member and District Branch Relations will sunset and its charge and duties will be subsumed into the Membership Committee. In addition, the Board will reduce its membership with elimination of three positions (Vice-President and two Trustees at Large), after approval by the bylaws committee as well as the Assembly or the membership. The Assembly will reduce its expenses by 20% in 2009 and study ways to reduce further for 2010. Member-in-Training representation will change; the details will be developed by the MTs and presented at the May board meeting. The overall aim is a board and APA with strong participation by all leaders, and a chance for all members to have effective access and representation for the work of our profession. The Medical Director and central office staff are also working diligently to reduce expenses and maximize the results of their efforts. State and district branch associations are also dealing with serious fiscal constraints, while still needing the support and advocacy of a strong APA.