Inter Organizational Practice Committee

Neuropsychology Toolkit

Inter Organizational Practice Committee

The IOPC is a super committee of AACN, NAN, D40, and ABN, tasked with coordinating advocacy efforts and improving the practice climate for Neuropsychology. The Healthcare Reform Toolkit is an evolving interactive website designed to educate neuropsychologists about healthcare reform and share effective practice models

 Tele-NP advocacy

The APA has been highly effective in advocating with CMS for inclusion of neuropsychology testing codes with covered Telehealth services. In order to assure access to neuropsychological services for patents during the pandemic, the next advocacy task is to ensure that all national and state private insurers, as well as all state Medicaid carriers likewise cover tele-NP.

Link here for constantly updated national and state information on specific insurers’ coverage. For those in states where tele-NP is not yet covered, here are resources to assist advocacy efforts.

advocacy strategy for expanded tele-NP

  1. Your state psychological association (SPTA) will have the best chance of securing the expanded access to tele-NP. If you are in a state where there is a strong regional neuropsychological society, a joint advocacy effort between the Neuropsych society and SPTA will be the most likely to result in success.

  2. Link here for a sample letter that APA sent out to all SPTAs. A similar letter was sent by APA to all SPTAs. The name of the private insurance company, or Medicaid carrier can be inserted, along with the logo of the SPTA. Note: this is a new letter, a similar letter sent a week addressed psychotherapy codes. Importantly, this letter is not for an individual to send, but rather to send with the weight of the state’s psychological organization.

  3. As we amass a list of national and state public and private insurers that are covering tele-NP, reference to those might be added to the letters, to strengthen the argument.

  4. Some SPTAs (typically larger ones) have longstanding close relationships with insurance executives (e.g. quarterly meetings to address provider concerns). In those cases, the established relationship is crucial to achieving expanded coverage. Where an SPTA does not have those resources, we strongly recommend the SPTA have a local neuropsychologist who has forged a relationship with a particular insurance company be the contact person to introduce the advocacy team to the insurer and introduce the issue. As an example, a provider might have a large group practice and would have had many occasions to connect with one or more insurers. That person who is already a ‘known entity’ can be an important conduit for the advocacy. The IOPC will assist SPTAs in identifying these local providers if requested.

  5. Please contact Karenpostal@comcast.net directly if your advocacy team needs assistance. The IOPC wants to assist any state/ regional effort. We have assembled a team of national experts, APA legal staff, SPTA presidents who are also neuropsychologists, large private practice owners who have successfully advocated with local insurers for expanded Tele-NP. We are here to help expand access for patients to neuropsychological services during the pandemic.

Nav Neuro interview with Dr. Maggie Lanca

Dr. Lanca is the president of the Massachusetts Psychological Association, APA D40/ Society for Clinical Neuropsychology chair of Practice, and IOPC delegate. NavNeuro has interviewed her on her successful advocacy in Massachusetts for coverage of tele-NP.

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