Speakers from the American Psychological Association (APA) will provide an informal virtual presentation and discussion on the ongoing initiative by the APA and APA Services to promote greater access to behavioral health services in many commercial insurance networks by improving conditions for psychologists and other behavioral health professionals.  They will specifically discuss the APA/APA Services advocacy after last summer’s substantial rate cuts by Anthem BCBS in Georgia. 

Disclaimers:

Important: Psychologists should make their own decisions on whether to participate in any insurance company’s network or to accept any company’s reimbursement rates.

The information in this webinar does not constitute and should not be relied upon as legal advice and should not be used as a substitute for obtaining personal legal advice and consultation prior to making decisions.

Speakers: 

Stephen R. Gillaspy, PhD

Deputy Chief, Health Policy and Healthcare Financing                                                                                                                                                     American Psychological Association

Deputy Chief, Health Policy and Healthcare Financing
Dr. Stephen R. Gillaspy is a licensed psychologist and since August 2019 has served as the senior director for the Office of Health and Health Care Financing. Prior to joining APA, Gillaspy was a professor of pediatrics within the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. Within the section of general and community pediatrics he served as the associate section chief and director of clinical psychology. Gillaspy also served as the director of the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline. He completed his graduate training in clinical psychology at Oklahoma State University and completed his clinical internship and a postdoctoral fellowship in primary care and health psychology at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. At the state level, Gillaspy has served on the board of the Oklahoma Psychological Association and as president. Nationally, Gillaspy has served as APA’s advisor for the Health Care Professional Advisory Committee to the American Medical Association’s Relative Value Update Committee.

Alan Nessman, JD, Senior Special Counsel

Office of Professional Legal & Regulatory Affairs                                                                                                                                                             American Psychological Association

Alan Nessman is Senior Special Counsel in the Office of Professional Legal & Regulatory Affairs at the American Psychological Association.  For over 25 years, he has been the APA’s lead attorney on commercial insurance advocacy and guidance, focusing on insurance issues impacting psychologists and their patients.  He has been the APA’s expert on mental health parity since 2010.

His varied advocacy on these issues, often in collaboration with other mental health stakeholders, has included complaints and comments to federal and state regulators and to Congress, advocacy directly with insurers, marketplace initiatives, and supporting litigation by state psychological associations. Prior to joining APA, he spent 15 years as a law firm litigator, primarily on insurance issues

Marnie G. Shanbhag, Ph.D.

Senior Director, Office of Independent Practice
American Psychological Association

Dr. Marnie Shanbhag is APA’s inaugural Senior Director for the Office of Independent Practice. In this role, she leads APA’s efforts to promote independent practice and support private practitioners as part of APA’s goals to advance the profession.  Her office works to help independent practitioners meet the realities of today while preparing for the demands of tomorrow.

Dr. Shanbhag is a PSYPACT authorized, Florida licensed psychologist with seventeen years’ experience in independent private practice prior to joining APA. Her expertise spans both mental health practice providing adult psychotherapy services and applied practice providing executive coaching and consulting services, with interests in leadership and maternal health. Prior to opening her own practice, Dr. Shanbhag served as the Executive Director of a nonprofit agency, coordinating maternal and child health systems. Dr. Shanbhag is a member of the APA, APA Divisions 42 (Psychologists in Independent Practice) and 13 (Society of Consulting Psychology), as well as the Florida Psychological Association.