A Message from Our President

Dear Friends and Colleagues:

I am writing on behalf of Addiction Treatment Providers Association (ATPA) to invite you to join our organization. ATPA, initiated in 2005, represents the interests and goals of New York’s premier proprietary agencies. We are supported in our efforts by our relationship with Mercury Public Affairs. Through ATPA, executives such as you have a formidable voice in every critical area that is vital to our success as business leaders.

In the last 6 months ATPA has been working on issues that affect each of our programs. Our success with OASAS, partnering with ASAP by co-chairing the Managed Care Reform and Parity Committee and the Corporate Compliance and Integrity Committee and our leadership role on the Social Work Licensure bill, has resulted in our Association’s recognition as a powerful, unified voice of proprietary treatment providers in New York State.

Key issues that ATPA can provide you information and support on are listed below:

1. APGs
There is no greater urgency for outpatient providers than knowledge about the complete reform of the Medicaid reimbursement system through implementation of APGs to Outpatient clinics. It will drastically change your practice of treatment, influence your staffing and radically change reimbursement. Are you aware of this, of the intricacies of the proposed Diagnostic Codes, the complicated billing procedures? We are involved at both the Clinical Committee setting Diagnostic Codes and at the Steering Committee developing the rates and reimbursement system. Prepare now, as it is scheduled for implementation in September 2010 or latest January 2011.

2. MANAGED CARE REFORM
Currently we are leaders in spearheading the Forums in Albany and New York City regarding managed care. Each of us is touched by the discrimination, complicated rules, and poor payment. /reimbursement of managed care companies in New York. What will be the effect of new healthcare legislation at the federal level on OASAS licensed facilities? Surely you want to know what is happening in this arena, what changes are coming and how you can benefit from work that ATPA and OASAS are engaged in on your behalf.

3. OMIG
Lobbying regarding OMIG legislation has been at the forefront of our efforts this year. We have personally met with Senator Johnson who has held hearings on the OMIG at which a key ATPA member testified.  We have been continually involved with Sen. Johnson and Assemblyman Gottfried on the wording of each piece of legislation being developed to control the abuses of the OMIG inflicted on all of us. Are you aware of the legislation, do you know how it would affect your clinic?

4. SOCIAL WORK LICENSURE
Our work on the extension of the Social Work Licensure bill would directly affect each us. If this extension is not granted the previously exempt CASAC and CASAC-T counselors would no longer be able to practice in OASAS certified facilities. In fact, all non-Social Workers would have been prevented from providing counseling services. We actively worked with Senator Gary Pretlow to support his bill to extend this waiver, and then to work with all the “O” agencies to ensure that these counselors are permanently exempt. If non-Social Workers were unable to practice in your facility, what effect would that have on your agency?

The efforts stated above prove the value of joining ATPA. OASAS continually requests ATPA to be part of their key work groups, to influence new regulations, policy and overall understanding of the field of proprietary providers. Surely you want to be part of this effort. 

Six years ago, I would not call a “competitor” for help.  Now I can and I do. Members of ATPA have called each other for a variety issues: Will they share their Patient Handbook? What happened with their OASAS survey?  How are they documenting a progress note? Can I see a copy of their treatment plan? Are they implementing an EMR, which one and why? Will they share salaries for case managers, counselors, nurses? Do they have a lawyer helpful with OMIG? Can they get me access to a person/meeting at OASAS, Medicaid or DOH?

The current economy will dictate massive budget cuts, more stringent controls and less commercial insurance reimbursement. This is the time to be part of ATPA to be supported and educated about vital issues, and have the help needed to guide you through the morass of New York State’s behavioral system.

This is the time to join ATPA, to be part of the solution for your facility to survive and succeed in New York.

We are stronger when united. We look forward to your membership.

Sincerely,

Gay Hartigan
President