1. Membership: how the apa works for you
Together, we’re moving Psychiatry forward
January, 2016

2. Number of countries where APA members practice
Who is the apa?
Providing Medical Leadership for Mind, Brain and Body.
Founded in 1844, APA is the nation’s first medical specialty society
More than 36,000 members worldwide and 74 District Branches
Publishes the American Journal of Psychiatry, the most widely read psychiatry journal in the world
Recognize contributions to the profession with more than 40 awards and 100 fellowships for residents, fellows, and early career psychiatrists
100+
Number of countries where APA members practice
$900,000
The amount of funding dedicated yearly to supporting APA fellows’ work and research
Founded in 1844, the APA is the world’s largest and oldest professional association of psychiatrists and it is our mission to support our members and the patients they serve. As a resident, you are part of a medical specialty society representing growing membership of more than 35,000 psychiatrists.
74 affiliates, known as district branches and state associations, in the US and Canada
Your membership includes subscription to the American Journal of Psychiatry, voted one of the top most influential journals in biology and medicine.
RFMs can apply for various APA fellowships and awards, and instructions are provided later in the presentation.

3. Advocacy for the profession Support for patients Advancing psychiatry
What does the APA Do?
Advocacy for the profession
Support for patients
Advancing psychiatry
Governing voice of the profession
Everyday value for members

4. Advocacy for the profession
The voice of psychiatry on the Hill, in the courts, and in each state
Representing the profession in scope of practice issues
Leading the fight for parity enforcement
Advocating for increased NIH research funding
Working toward comprehensive mental health care reform and improved payment models for psychiatrists
As an example of the APA’s effective advocacy work, APA:
Supported New York State Psychiatric Association (one of the APA’s district branches) in a parity-related lawsuit against UnitedHealth Group. The Court’s landmark ruling means associations like the APA and NYSPA can represent their members and patients in pressing a claim under the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act. The ruling is a win is a step toward ensuring the Mental Health Parity Act of 2008 is enforced.
APA effectively influenced the passage of the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans (SAV) Act, which will increase access to mental health care for veterans by improving the ability of the Veterans Health Administration to attract and retain psychiatrists.
APA has engaged the Department of Labor, state attorney generals, and large employers to enforce Mental Health Parity regulations and ensure that adequate networks of psychiatrists are available to serve the needs of the population.
APA is working with other medical associations to oppose further consolidation in the health insurance industry that will disadvantage both patients and physicians.
The American Psychiatric Foundation joined other leading organizations in supporting the Stepping Up Initiative, an unprecedented national collaboration designed to generate action in communities across the country for a common goal: to reduce the number of people with mental illnesses in U.S. jails. More than 100 counties have applied to participate in our inaugural Stepping Up summit.
Visit the APA Advocacy Action Center to learn more!

5. Support for patients
A robust Patients and Families section is part of the new Psychiatry.org
The Patients and Families section of psychiatry.org includes information on common mental disorders, including symptoms, risk factors, and treatment options. Each section also includes answers to patient questions written by leading psychiatrists, stories from people living with mental illness, and links to additional resources.

6. Making a difference in our communities
Stepping Up Initiative
Typical or Troubled
Helping Hands
APA Foundation is…
Leading a national initiative to reduce the number of people with mental illnesses in jails
For more than 10 years, equipping teachers, coaches, and other school personnel with the importance of recognizing the warning signs of mental health problems and how to address potential issues
Offering grants to encourage medical students to participate in community services focused on raising awareness of mental illness
…and more
The American Psychiatric Association Foundation compliments the professionalism of the APA by focusing on, and playing leadership roles in, the nation’s most pressing social mental health issues across our society.
As a 501(c)3 charitable organization, the Foundation administers programs – ranging from meeting the chronically unmet needs of minority populations to conducting innovative research that contributes to the scientific base of psychiatric practice, to increasing public awareness and removing barriers to mental health care – that change lives. When combined, the programs and initiatives of the Foundation are building a mentally healthy nation.
Our mission is: Advancing mental health, overcoming mental illness, and eliminating stigma.

7. Advancing psychiatry
Publishing and updating practice guidelines and the DSM
Publish more than 700 books/journals
Contributing to the latest scientific research
Most widely read psychiatric journal
Hosting the largest clinical psychiatric meeting in the world
Substantial discount for members
As one example of the impact of the APA’s efforts, The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) announced its list of the 10 most clinically important psychiatry research articles of 2015, and four  of the 10 were published in the American Journal of Psychiatry (AJP). No other journal published more than one of the selected studies.
Members enjoy a significant discount on registration to the Annual Meeting – a value of $650.

8. The governing voice of psychiatry
Members are represented by…
The Board of Trustees
Elected by the general membership
Includes a diverse representation of psychiatrists from across the country
The Assembly
Representing the district branches and state associations and recommending actions to the Board of Trustees
Councils
Implementing the APA’s objectives and serving as subject matter experts on the topics and issues driving psychiatry and mental health care
District Branches
The voice of psychiatry in your local community or state
Provide local advocacy and education
The most visible leadership positions in APA are determined by APA members. Each year a number of positions on the Board of Trustees become available for election by the membership.
Find out how you can get involved at psychiatry.org/psychiatrists

9. What the APA Means to Me
We encourage you to insert a picture and testimonial that describes your experience with the APA. To add a picture, simply select the photo icon, which will open the Insert Picture finder.

10. Membership has its privileges
Access in-person and online opportunities to engage in lifelong learning
Find support on the business side of medicine
Connect with a professional family you can rely on throughout your career

11. Learning with the apa The new APA Learning Center
Search by topic, easily track credits through your portfolio
More than 200 courses, steeply discounted for members
World-class education on hot topics like opioid abuse and collaborative care
Business of medicine content, including risk management and contract negotiations
CME and MOC PIP and Self-Assessment activities are automatically reported to ABPN
Includes American Journal of Psychiatry activities and courses
The new APA Learning Center
For Every Stage of Your Career
Available at education.psychiatry.org
Members can earn FREE CME with the Members’ Course of the Month
The APA is committed to helping its members navigate the changing certification requirements and continuous program of lifelong learning. Included in and in addition to the Learning Center, these educational offerings are clinically relevant and easy to use:
Practice guidelines and other online courses (many courses are free or reduced-fee for residents) through
FOCUS journal and related products
PsychiatryOnline.org - an online portal to APA’s journals, books (including the DSM-5 products), Psychiatric News, etc.
More information on the APA Members’ Course of the Month is available on psychiatry.org. Members that are opted into s will also receive a monthly notification when the new Course of the Month becomes available.

12. APA Learning Center: catalog
Screenshot of the APA Learning Center landing page. Courses are displayed in carousels by topic. Learners can also use the catalog to search by topic, competency, sub competency or milestone, activity type, and credit type.

13. Learning center: my portfolio
Example learner portfolio. The Learning Center will generate course recommendations based on your interests. You can navigate to your learning activities by your progress (in-progress, completed) and also easily access your APA certificates, add certificates earned outside the learning center, and download your transcript.

14. MOC, MOL, and more… Benefit Value
Free print and online subscription to The American Journal of Psychiatry and Psychiatric News
$266 value
Discount on the FOCUS journal. Meets the requirements for MOC Parts II and IV and offers up to 44 AMA PRA Category 1 CME Credits
$245 value
Steeply discounted registration for the Annual Meeting and IPS: The Mental Health Services Conference
$650 value
Membership pays for itself through valuable education benefits that help you streamline the MOC/MOL process.

15. Opt-in at finder.psychiatry.org
Find a psychiatrist
Members can opt in to the APA’s Find a Psychiatrist database, helping patients to find psychiatrists by geographic and practice area.
Opt-in at finder.psychiatry.org
Screenshot of the find a psychiatrist landing page. Use the Opt in link to enroll.

16. Support on the business side of medicine
Practice Management for Psychiatrists – Practice Management Help Line, Medicare Service Center, and CPT Coding Services
Practice Protection– Eligibility to participate in APA-endorsed medical malpractice insurance program, new in 2015 with greater protections
APA Marketplace – offering discounts on practice management tools, travel, insurance, and more. apabenefits.org
Job Central – helping you find a new career opportunities
Members have access to resources to help those transitioning into practice or trying to find information about a topic:
Free Performance in Practice assessment tools to help you fulfill MOC requirements. APA’s PIPs are ABPN-approved and provides up to 20 CME credits. If you are graduating soon, you need these tools to maintain your Board certification.
Practice Management for Psychiatrists: The Basics, an online handbook. Members can call the APA Practice Management Help Line for practical assistance on managing their practice or to get questions answered regarding Medicare reimbursement and CPT Coding.
In May 2015, APA and the endorsed medical liability insurer APA, Inc agreed to changes to the policy terms that offer our members much greater protections to ensure the program is a true member benefit. If you haven’t looked at this benefit in the past, now may be a good time to second a second look. The following highlight some of the changes.
The coverage limit for punitive damages has been increased from $25,000 to $250,000.
The consent to settle (hammer) clause was removed.
Broad coverage is now included for procedures, tests, and consultations where Neurology and Psychiatry cross,
Licensing board defense coverage has been increased from $5,000 to $50,000.
Medical payment coverage has been increased from $25,000 to $50,000 for patients injured on a business premise.
Defense will be provided for the entire lawsuit even if only one claim or allegation triggers coverage.
A part-time policy is being offered that addressed academic or institutional situations, including moonlighting residents.
APA Inc. will not penalize policyholders with a premium surcharge for filing a claim, which can result in a 50%+ increase in premiums compared to other carriers.
Loss of income limits have been increased from $250 to $1000 per day while insured participates in defense of claim.
These are just some of the highlights and just one example of what APA can accomplish for our members. Members can elect to enroll in the APA Scheduled Payment Plan to pay dues in monthly, quarterly, annual or bi-annual installments – with no charges or service fees. Dues do not have to be paid all at once.

17. Saving on membership
Scheduled Payment Plan: Have your APA and District Branch dues automatically charged to your credit card in monthly, quarterly, biannual or annual installments. No interest or service fees.
Couples Discount: Couples who are both psychiatrists can have their dues reduced by 15%. They will receive only one print copy of AJP.
Lump Sum Dues: Pay a one-time amount for APA national dues for your lifetime. Never worry again about annual renewal invoices or increases in membership dues.
For more information on membership benefits, visit psychiatry.org and select Join in the top, right-hand corner.

18. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn APA Communities Stay connected
Stay connected with the APA through various social media platforms.
Includes subgroup for Residents and Early Career Psychiatrists

19. info@psych.org www.psychiatry.org
To learn more…
We look forward to connecting with you!
Contact the APA
PSYCH ( )