Advocacy Update: August 2026
APA Resources and Activities
APA Advocacy Prompts Blue Shield to Rescind Psychotherapy Billing Policies
Following APA advocacy, Blue Shield of California has agreed to rescind two psychotherapy reimbursement policies that conflicted with CPT coding guidance and created unnecessary administrative burden.Click here to read more.
Automatic E&M Downcoding Policy Survey
Effective July 1, 2026, HCSC’s BCBS plans in Illinois, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas implemented automatic downcoding policies. Automatic downcoding means the payer changed the E/M code level without ever asking to see the physician’s clinical documentation. To better inform our advocacy efforts, APA is collecting information via a survey about how members are being impacted by this. Click here to read more.
Advocacy in Action
This month, Past APA President Dr. Theresa Miskimen and Past New Jersey Psychiatric Association President Dr. Randall Gurak attended an event for Rep. Herb Conaway (NJ-03). Now serving his first term in Congress, Rep. Conaway brings the perspective of a primary care physician and has been a leader on legislative issues affecting the medical profession. Several other APA members, including Dr. Jerry Halverson and Dr. Falish Gilman (both pictured below) attended events with their members of Congress as well. Click here to read more.
Regulatory Activities
APA Advocacy Win: CMS Releases Proposed CY 2027 Physician Fee Schedule
CMS has released the proposed CY 2027 physician fee schedule that includes several changes APA has long advocated for, including greater flexibility for teaching physician telehealth supervision when either the teaching physician or resident is physically located with the patient. Click here to read more.
APA Urges CMS to Revise the Interim Final Medicaid Community Engagement Requirements
APA responded to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services interim final with comment period (IFC), Medicaid Program; Community Engagement for Certain Individuals urging revisions prior to finalization. Click here to read more.
APA Submits Comments to HHS on the Temporary Placement of 7-Hydroxymitragynine Above a Specified Threshold in Schedule 1
APA responded to the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Request for Information (RFI) on a proposed threshold for 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) scheduling under the Controlled Substances Act. Click here to read more.