Collaborating with the psychologists and social workers in analyzing and reporting findings from the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) Parity Evaluation.  Findings from this APF-funded study, are now being used to inform advocacy efforts to improve  federal parity legislation now pending.  Key preliminary findings which are being finalized for publication, indicate the majority of FEHBP patients treated by psychiatrists in the Washington DC  area were not treated by a network psychiatrist, which is a key finding as parity-level benefits are only available from in-network clinicians.  Consequently, the majority of psychiatric patients were not receiving parity-level benefits.  Further, only about one-third of all three clinician groups studied were participating in FEHBP networks; and of these network clinicians, only about half the network clinicians reported having immediate openings for new FEHBP patients.  As current federal parity proposals have not been designed to ensure out of network mental health benefits, these findings are vital in showing the need for out of network mental health benefits to ensure access to treatment.

Completing pre-testing to finalize an NIMH grant, “Access and Outcomes of Treatment for Patients with First Episode Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders” aimed at improving continuity of care for schizophrenia.  This proposal (Mark Olfson, MD, MPH, PI) will assess whether and to what extent modifiable physician behaviors influence continuity of treatment in first episode psychosis and whether the development of a strong therapeutic alliance and patient self-management skills tends to extend continuity of treatment and improve outcomes.