Originally published: . Volume 4, No. 12. Source pages: 16.
The Louisiana Behavior Analysis Association will be hosting the inaugural Gulf Coast ABA Conference, October 18 and 19, 2013, in Baton Rouge. The Conference will be held at the Cook Hotel on the Louisiana State University campus, Baton Rouge.
The Keynote speaker will be Dr. R. Douglas Greer from the Columbia University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and Teachers College, according to information on the association’s (LaBAA) website.
Conference events will include workshops, paper sessions, symposia, and opportunities for continuing education.
The call for papers is now open.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 4, No. 12. Source pages: 3.
The 26-page revision of regulations governing counselors was published in the July issue of the Louisiana Register. Licensed Professional Counselor Board (LPC Board) Executive Director Mary Alice Olsan previously told the Times, “It was a huge body of changes.”
The LPC Board reworked major sections of the rules because of Act 320 of the 2011 legislative session and Act 636 of 2012, which amended Act 320. The LPC Board had also passed emergency rules in order to deal with some of the problems in the consultation and collaboration requirements in the 2011 law that expanded the scope of practice for counselors.
But, Act 320 prohibited the counselor from working with a person with serious mental illness, “… unless that individual is under the active care of a practitioner who is licensed by the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners and is authorized to prescribe medications in the management of psychiatric illness, and only in the context of an ongoing consultation and collaboration with that practitioner.”
The wording created problems with client rights, confidentiality and healthcare costs.
In 2012, Act 636 amended the earlier law by deleting the requirement that the counselor’s client had to be under the active care of a practitioner who is licensed by the state medical board. The words, “when medication may be indicated” and “in accordance with industry best practices, consults and collaborates with…” were substituted. Also, an advanced practice registered nurse was included as a choice for consultation.
The new rules clarify the consultation/collaboration situation which says that the counselor may not work with a person suffering from a serious mental illness “when medication may be indicated,” and so must consult with a professional who is licensed under the state medical board to prescribe, such as physicians, psychiatric nurse practitioners, or medical psychologists.
The rule provides the following background:
“1. Mental Health Counseling/Psychotherapy Services––rendering or offering prevention, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment, which include psychotherapy, of mental, emotional, behavioral, and addiction disorders to individuals, groups, organizations, or the general public by a licensed professional counselor, which is consistent with his professional training as prescribed by R.S. 37:1107(A)(8), and code of ethics/behavior involving the application of principles, methods, or procedures of the mental health counseling profession.
“2. However, a counselor may not assess, diagnose, or provide treatment to any individual suffering from a serious mental illness when medication may be indicated, unless the counselor consults and collaborates with a practitioner who is licensed or holds a permit with the Louisiana state Board of Medical Examiners or an advanced practice registered nurse licensed by the Louisiana state Board of Nursing who is certified as a psychiatric nurse practitioner.”
“The definition of Serious Mental Illness applies to individuals suffering from schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, panic disorder, obsessive- compulsive disorder, major depressive disorder, moderate to severe, anorexia/bulimia, intermittent explosive disorder, autism, psychosis NOS (not otherwise specified) when diagnosed in a child under 17 years of age, Rett’s disorder, Tourette’s disorder, and dementia.”
The new rule clarifies certain aspects of wording of Medication is Indicated:
“Medication is Indicated— when the client has been diagnosed with a serious mental illness and: i. when the client or legal guardian discloses the prescribed use of psychiatric medication; ii. when the counselor, client, or legal guardian believes that the use of prescribed psychiatric medication may facilitate treatment goals and improve client functioning.”
The rule also clarifies that consultation and collaboration, “––may be specific or general in nature.” This distinction allows the counselor to choose a variety of different actions depending on whether the client gives permission for, or agrees to a particular track for consultation and collaboration with someone licensed under the medical board.
The new rule notes, “General Consultation and Collaboration. When medication is indicated for clients who have been diagnosed with a serious mental illness and when the client does not assent to a specific consultation, the counselor must attempt to consult with a practitioner within a reasonable time for a general consultation without releasing any identifying information about the client.”
The 26 pages of revisions and additions were also needed to implement Act 276 of 2012, which allows for licensure of individuals in military. And, the changes updated the LPC Code of Conduct with the latest edition of the American Counseling Association Code of Ethics.
The full text is available in the July issue of the Louisiana Register.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 4, No. 12. Source pages: 3.
Comments by August 9
The psychology board has proposed rules for updating contact information, and for temporary registration for out- of-state psychologists, in the July Louisiana Register.
A rule requiring psychologists to update their contact information with the board within 30 days if they change their address or contact, was proposed. The rule states: “A licensed psychologist shall notify the board within 30 days, with documentation, attesting to any change of contact information including mailing address, work address, telephone number and email address. This documentation notice shall include the psychologist's full name, license number, and the old and new contact information.”
Another proposed rule sets out the paperwork that is to be completed for the temporary registration for out- of-state psychologists. The temporarily registered psychologist is to pass the Jurisprudence exam and pay a fee. The proposed new rule also outlines the conditions for emergency temporary registration and also expedited status for licensure for military applicants.
Both Notices of Intent can be read online at the Louisiana Register. Public comments should be given to the Executive Director, Kelly Parker, by 12 pm, August 9.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 4, No. 12. Source pages: 4.
The School Specialist Task Force created by the state psychology board met in June to discuss the possibility of regulation under the Louisiana Board of Examiners of Psychologists (LSBEP) for the school psychology specialist.
Members of the Task Force attending were Chair Dr. Rita Culross, Dr. Steven Welsh, Dr. Carmen Broussard, Dr. Conni Patterson, and E. Francoise Parr. Also attending was the Executive Director, Kelly Parker. Also on the Task Force, but absent from this meeting, were David White, Executive Director of the Louisiana Psychological Association and Susan Ratterree, National School Psychology Representative.
According to the minutes, Dr. Welsh summarized some of the ideas that he expressed at the March Long-Range Planning meeting. He suggested that if the Board decides to license school specialists, he saw this as an “optional” license and thought it may allow practitioners to contract with places like learning centers and charter schools.
Dr. Broussard said that licensing school specialists would make services more available in rural areas, and noted that she was the only school psychologist in her area.
Also according to the minutes, the group reviewed the Texas model for licensed school specialist and discussed the advantages and disadvantages of a license for the specialist. They also reviewed educational requirements for several programs.
The group discussed the possible qualifications, which included a 72- hour degree with internship from an accredited, along with a national exam, a state jurisprudence exam, and criminal background check.
The Task Force also agreed to prepare a survey for the community which sent by email to members of the psychology community and school psychology community.
According to Kelly Parker, about 140 responses have been received so far. The questionnaire asked respondents, “If the LSBEP were to consider licensure of school specialists, what do you believe is appropriate employment possibilities for a licensed school specialist? – Contract with a licensed psychologist; Contract with school system; Private Practice; or other.”
In an item about qualifications, the authors asked which training and credentials the community members considered important: School Specialist Degree, internship, NASP academic program or equivalent, NCSP written exam, Jurisprudence Exam, criminal background check, continuing education.
The survey also asked respondents to list competencies they viewed as important for the school specialist. These included instructional design, organization and operation of schools, psychoeducational assessment, social-emotional assessment, consultation, behavior management, professional and legal issues, counseling, and practicum.
Executive Director Kelly Parker explained to the Times that she will be keeping the survey open for additional responses from community members. The survey can be found on the LSBEP website under the news section.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 4, No. 12. Source pages: 4.
Press Release July 26, 2013 As a result of litigation pursued by Attorney General Buddy Caldwell, the state of Louisiana is receiving $45 million from British health care giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) to resolve Medicaid fraud and deceptive marketing allegations related to its popular diabetes drug, Avandia, and other prescription medications. The agreement, announced today in the 19th Judicial District Court before Judge Janice Clark, is the largest such pharmaceutical recovery ever received by the state.
“Today’s multi-million dollar recovery is historic for Louisiana and marks an important victory for our consumers who have every right to know about the risks and negative side-effects of prescription drugs,” said Attorney General Caldwell. “These kinds of deceptive tactics and misrepresentations will not be tolerated in this state, and violators like GSK will be held accountable.”
Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals Secretary Kathy Kliebert said, "It is critical that companies accurately represent medications that consumers rely on for treatment. We are pleased that the Attorney General's Office was able to reach this settlement, and we are hopeful that this sends a strong message that we will not let companies misrepresent products that directly impact the health and well-being of Louisiana citizens."
Attorney General Caldwell said, “By pursuing GSK on our own, we have recovered 20 times more money for the state of Louisiana than we would have in the multi-state settlement approved last November.”
In addition to Avandia, the settlement also resolves claims relating to the drugs Paxil, Wellbutrin, Advair, Lamictal, Zofran, Imitrex, Lotronex, Flovent and Valtrex for off-label, non-covered uses in violation of state laws.
Assistant Attorney General Nicholas Diez, assigned to the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, and Assistant Attorney General Keetsie Gunnels of the Attorney General’s Public Protection Division, assisted in the handling of the litigation on behalf of the state.
Last year, GSK agreed to plead guilty and to pay $3 billion, primarily to the federal government, to resolve its criminal and civil liability arising from the company’s unlawful promotion of certain prescription drugs, its failure to report certain safety data, and its civil liability for alleged false price reporting practices in a case brought by the U.S. Justice Department.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 4, No. 12. Source pages: 4.
Dr. Joe Comaty wrote to The National Psychologist and his letter was published in the July/August issue. He noted an error in the paper’s March/April edition.
In the article, “Illinois, New Jersey and Ohio ripe for RxP?” Comaty pointed out that a description about New Mexico, Louisiana and Guam having indicated “… some oversight or supervision by licensed MDs,” for medical psychologists, and he wrote this was not correct.
Comaty said that there is “… no reference anywhere to any requirement for MPs [medical psychologists] in Louisiana to have oversight or be supervised by MDs.” And, “Louisiana MPs can now and have always had the authority to prescribe independently. The only requirement for entry level MPs is that they discuss proposed tx plans with the patient’s primary or attending physician before prescribing and have concurrence.”
“But this does not constitute oversight nor supervision as the physician has no ongoing responsibility for the treatment plan.”
He explained that MPs who hold the Certificate of Advanced Practice are not required to contact the physician for concurrence, citing R.S. 37:1360.57. He wrote that MPs are “… in every sense of the word independent prescribers.”
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 4, No. 12. Source pages: 4.
For the first time in many years, the Executive Directors of state boards governing professional health occupations will meet together to discuss issues of mutual interest and education. Attendees include Kelly Parker of the state psych-ology board, Emily Efferson from social work board, Mary Alice Olsan from the LPC board, and a designee from the state medical board, and also others.
The effort was initiated by Ms. Parker, who noted to the Times that Ms. Efferson assisted in coordinating the first meeting, which will take place at the social work board in Baton Rouge, August 2.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 4, No. 12. Source pages: 5.
A study group charged with looking into expanding the ways that health care providers can assist patients through electronic communications, called “telehealth,” drew the attention of the state medical board in June, when a report authored by Kathy Kliebert was reviewed by the physicians. Among other recommendations, the report suggested repealing the law defining “telemedicine,” saying that it is too narrow in its definition.
Kliebert, Department of Health and Hospitals Deputy Secretary, signed the report which listed the main findings of the group. The task force was created by a 2012 House Concurrent Resolution to look into the benefits of telehealth, and called for the Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) to study issues that could expand access to telehealth services.
The Resolution noted that telemedicine is the term typically used to refer to medical information exchanged between sites. The resolution, HCR 96, suggested a broader definition.
“… the term ‘telehealth’ encompasses telemedicine as well as other health services which can be provided remotely through communication technologies,” noted the author of the Resolution. “… common examples of telehealth services in practice include primary care, medical specialty consultations, behavioral health services, and home monitoring of chronic disease; …”
“WHEREAS, if our state is to achieve much needed improvement in health outcomes, a prudent and responsible policy for doing so would be to balance patient safety and access to care through expanding access by Louisianians to telehealth services,” wrote the Resolution’s author, Representative Simon.
The medical board’s discussion was prompted by a January 30, 2013 report, signed by Kliebert, to the Chairs of both Health and Welfare Committees. In the report, Kliebert noted the legal definition of telemedicine in R.S. 37:1262 and said, “Telehealth is more comprehensive than telemedicine. Telehealth can include innovation methods to deliver health services through home monitoring, synchronous (real time) or asynchronous interactions.”
Kliebert wrote that the study group recommends a new model for telehealth and to repeal the provisions of the 2005 Telemedicine Rule, (LAC 50: I.501–503) in its entirety. “This Rule has a narrow definition of telemedicine limited only to live interactive audio and video. The provisions do not provide guidance on provider types, reimbursement policies, or location of health services,” she wrote.
Kliebert’s letter also noted a recommendation to develop and adopt a new comprehensive Rule that redefines telemedicine to telehealth and include issues of “… services, modes of delivery, provider types, and reimbursement protocol to encourage private health insurers and Medicaid Program to reimburse for encounters between health care providers and clients regardless of location of patient and, when appropriate, health care providers.”
Kliebert wrote that another recommendation is to identify and recognize a Telehealth Consultation Standard, which is different from a “Face-to-Face” Consultation Standard, and establish reimbursement for in- home telehealth monitoring.
The authors of the in the study group also included concerns about telehealth, research, and benefits of telehealth, in their report.
The participants in the study group, set out by the HCR came from these groups: The health care services division of the Louisiana State University System, Tulane University School of Medicine, The Louisiana State Medical Society, The Louisiana Primary Care Association, The Louisiana Health Care Quality Forum, The HomeCare Association of Louisiana, The Louisiana Hospital Association, The Louisiana Association of Health Plans, and The Louisiana Cable and Telecommunications Association.
The full report from the HCR 96 study group can be found at http://dhh.louisiana.gov/assets/ docs/LegisReports/HCR96- 2013.pdf
The state medical board reviewed a memorandum prepared by then Executive Director, Robert Marier, MD, regarding the expansion of telehealth services, according to their June minutes. They agreed to express concerns about the redefining of “telemedicine” to “telehealth” and to inform the study group of the board’s willingness to participate in the future.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 4, No. 11. Source pages: 14.
We have big problems when it comes to health, healthcare, and healthcare costs in the US.
We rank 1st in health costs, but last in industrialized nations for many measures of health status. A report in the New England Journal of Medicine noted that 18 percent of patients are harmed by medical care.
In 2000 the Institutes of Medicine reported that medical errors were the eighth leading cause of death in the US. An estimated 450,000 preventable medication-related events occur in the US yearly, according to Mercola.com. He notes that 3.68 billion prescriptions were filled in the US in 2009, averaging to 12 prescriptions for every person in the country.
According to the Kaiser Foundation and the CDC, the main drivers of health care costs are technology and prescription drugs, chronic disease, aging of the population, and administrative costs.
Kaiser also points out that health costs are not equally distributed. In a given year, it is the top 5 percent who spends almost 50 percent of all health care dollars. On the other end, 80 percent spend about $4500 or less. And nearly half, the bottom 50 percent, spend only $829 or less.
Will Obamacare solve our real problems? Not likely. Overlaying one bad system with another bad system won’t get at the underlying misalignments. Third-party health payments now seem hopelessly meshed with catastrophic coverage, each requiring different interventions. The consumer is uninformed and herded by his fast think brain toward superficial solutions.
I’m reminded of a recent Medscape column by Dr. John Marshall. In “Walking Improves Cancer Outcomes,” he noted a study in Journal of Clinical Oncology that people who had colon cancer did much better if they exercised. He wrote that with 8.75 hours of exercise per week, the risk reduction is 0.58. “That is better than any chemotherapy we have given to anyone,” he said.
But only a consumer could make such a choice, not easy in a culture that promotes high tech, costly symptom treatments. And everyone knows that lifestyle changes can be much more difficult and complicated than taking a pill, or for that matter, going in for chemo.
Looking at the most radical changes I’ve seen in my lifetime, with the impact on the taxpayer and business notwithstanding, I’m astounded that anyone would attempt such a thing. It seems both naïve and tremendously overconfident. I can tell you from experience that even a simple, well thought out intervention in a large social system is extremely tricky. There is just too much about human behavior that is invisible and unpredictable.
And, I’m no economist, but just roughly looking at the subsidies offered I think the government is going to need a bigger printing press.
Having said that, I think that there are opportunities for those in the psychological and behavioral sciences to help make things work better, to help align incentives, and help uncover more of the important variables in the healthcare industry.
Obamacare might just be a springboard for some of the more innovative and creative people in our community to build in win-win approaches to our large-scale problems.
Where does health care spending come from? Most of the healthcare spending in a given year is by the top 5 percent of the population, as shown in this graph from the Kaiser Family Foundation. The bottom 50 percent spends less than $829. The bottom 80 percent spends $4,639 or less. According to the Kaiser and the CDC, the main drivers of health care costs are technology and prescription drugs, chronic disease, aging of the population, and administrative costs.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Community Leaders Talk About Violence Prevention June 28 Louisiana often ranked most violent state
The Louisiana Coalition for Violence Prevention hosted a meeting and training session for key community members on Friday, June 28 in Baton Rouge. The event was held at the Baton Rouge Area Foundation on North 4th Street.
Approximately 40 attendees from around the state represented psychology, counseling, social work, school psychology, psychiatry, law enforcement, legal, ministry, and research scientists. The participants listened to a presentation about violence, titled “Preventing Violence in Louisiana: Information, Ideas, and Inspiration,” and participated in a group discussion about the issues for the state.
“Violence is a mental health problem,” said Dr. John Simoneaux, the main presenter at the meeting and Coalition steering committee member. “Have we fixed the mental health problem?” he asked the group. “No,” he said. “The mistake we’ve made is that we haven’t delivered what we know –our knowledge and skills– to the public. We are the ones closest to the problem.”
“The person who goes out and kills someone, or kills five people––someone close to that person knew,” he said. Simoneaux is owner of Professional Training Resources, based in Pineville, LA.
He told the group that only 17 percent of the people in the state needing mental health services receive the necessary services.
“You are here because you, or your organization, are considered to be among the leaders in Louisiana of behavior science experts,” he said to attendees.
Dr. Bryan Gros, who introduced the steering committee members, said that this was a major step in bringing the behavioral health community together to deal with the issues of violence. “I’m privileged to be a part of this effort,” he said. Gros is past president of the Louisiana Psychological Association.
Cindy Nardini, licensed professional counselor and legislative chair for the Louisiana Counseling Association, explained that the Coalition’s efforts have been supported by the legislature in the form of a Senate Concurrent Resolution authored by Senator Mills. “We did not want a hard legislative measure, but only a soft show of support. We did not want to push people to do something they do not want to do.” She said the Coalition wanted to engage people voluntarily.
During the day, Simoneaux presented facts about violence in Louisiana. He noted that a May 7, 2012 issue of U.S.A. News identified Louisiana as the “Most Violent State in the U.S.” This was based on homicide rates, violent crime rates, and incarceration rates, as well as availability of firearms.
He reported that homicide was the second leading cause of death in Louisiana between 2008 and 2010, for persons between the ages of 10-24. And also that suicide is the third leading cause of death in the state for this age group.
The murder rate in New Orleans is 20% higher than Detroit, and nine times higher than New York and San Francisco, Simoneaux explained. And, Louisiana ranked 1st for gun violence and 2nd for murders of police officers.
Louisiana has 13,000 received domestic violence services, more than 3,500 orders for protection issued, and 1,562 forcible rapes reported, he said. In 2010 Louisiana ranked first in the nation with a homicide rate of 2.53 per 100,000 for females murdered by males, more than double the national average.
“We have a mental health problem,” he said. “ And a child-rearing problem, a family problem, a problem with our kin, and it is our responsibility to use our science, our skills, and our knowledge to deliver the answers and the help that we have to offer,” he noted.
The Coalition members proposed a plan to increase skill levels for behavioral health service providers that increases the effective and early detection of potentially violent individuals.
Simoneaux and others pointed out that the approach would not cost anything and would not involve government. “We do not want government to try and solve this for us, we want to provide solutions before faulty solutions are imposed by others,” he noted.
“The concern we have had is if the legislature tries to fix things, then we’ll have to wade through all sorts of additional problems,” he said. “The legislature is removed from the problem, this distance results in inefficient solutions.”
John Strain, licensed professional counselor from Mandeville, said, “This approach doesn’t increase the resources for the problem, it makes the resources we have more effective.”
Psychological scientist Dr. Alex Cohen from Louisiana State University (LSU) pointed out that eliminating violence was an ambitious goal. Dr. Julie Buckner also from LSU described some limitations with training approaches where even those who are adequately trained do not always apply their training.
The Coalition steering members agreed to take the ideas from the participants and blend them into the next plans.
One of the steering group members, Dr. Yael Banai, past president of the Louisiana School Psychological Association, noted the positive interactions in the multi-disciplinary meeting. She said, “To me perhaps the most important feature is that this initial in-service represents the work of a broad based coalition of mental health professionals who have plied their efforts across the artificial professional-organizational lines that often divide us, in service of the greater good.”
Industrial-organizational psychologist, Dr. Mkay Bonner, (L) and husband Sgt. Mark Johnson, Public Information Officer and Crimestoppers with the Monroe Police Department, talk with Dr. John Simoneaux (R) at the recent meeting of the Louisiana Coalition for Violence Prevention. Ms. Michelle Faust, LCSW, and regional administrator for DCFS listens to the discussion. Bonner and Johnson are Co-Coordinators for the Northeast Delta Crisis Intervention Team.
About 40 attendees from around the state met, representing counseling, social work, psychology school psychology, research scientists and others. The participants listened to a presentation about violence, titled “Preventing Violence in Louisiana: Information, Ideas, and Inspiration,” and participated in a group discussion about the issues for the state. Above, Cindy Nardini, LPC, talks about the Coalition and a Senate Concurrent Resolution supporting the group.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
The American Psychological Association will hold its annual convention in Honolulu, Hawi’i, from July 31 to August 4. Louisiana professors, psychologists, graduate and undergraduate researchers will present a number of presentations and research projects.
Included this year are Tulane’s Dr. Stacy Overstreet and Dr. Bonnie Nastasi, University of Louisiana Monroe’s Dr. Karen Kopera-Frye and Dr. Bill McCown, Dr. Darlyne Nemeth, Dr. Lee Matthews, Loyola’s Dr. Janet Matthews, Drs. Greg Gormanous and Warren Lowe, Dr. Kelly Ray, and a number from LaTech including Drs. Guler Boyraz, Mary M. Livingston, Walter Buboltz, Janelle McDaniel, and Steve Jenkins.
Dr. Lee Matthews will chair a symposium, “Essential Topics for SPTAs––Ethics, Advocacy, Service, and Education.”
Monroe’s Dr. Karen Kopera- Frye and Dr. Bill McCown serve as co-authors for graduate student Janease Traylor’s research, “Surveying State Psychological Association Members for Recommendations on Membership Service.”
Additional co-authors are graduate student Sandra Dillion, and psychologists Drs. Susan Dardard and Gail Gillespie.
Loyola’s Dr. Janet Matthews will participate in a symposium, “A Blueprint for the Future––Preparation of Health Service Psychologists,” along with past APA president Dr. Carol Goodheart and chair Dr. Frank Andrasik.
Drs. Greg Gormanous and Warren Lowe will chair the symposium, “Competing Coaches and Coachees–– Mock Licensing Board Hearing.” Dr. Gormanous will take the role of Administrative Hearing Officer, and participants will play the roles of an administrative hearing officer, administrative hearing deputy, psychologist’s attorney, complainant, board attorney, and defendant.
Dr. Kelly Ray will be a participant and first author in a symposium, “Nuts and Bolts of Successful Practice––Early Career Options.”
Dr. Darlyne Nemeth will chair a symposium, “Katrina Versus Sandy––The Psychological and Neurocognitive Aftermath of Environmental Trauma.” Also participating will be Dr. Judy Kuriansky (from New York, who has been involved with Nemeth’s work in Louisiana since Katrina), Chelsie Songy, BA, and Dr. Robin Gay.
Chelsie Songy will also present her research, “Comparison of TEA-ch and TOVA Results for School Children with ADHD,” co-authored with Amber Gremillion, BS, and Dr. Nemeth. Songy and co-authors will present a comparison study of the Test of Everyday Attention in Children (TEA-ch) and Test of Variables of Attention (TOVA) in school-aged youngsters, finding that when traditional methods of ADHD assessment yield questionable results, the TEA-ch can offer valuable information.
Amber Gremillion, BS, will present her research “Using NEPSY-II Subtests to Identify Asperger’s Disorder in School-Aged Children.” Co- authors are Dr. Nemeth, C. Songy, BA, and Ayesha Khurshid, MS.
Dr. Nemeth will also present, “Deception Success: The Backdoor Approach to Forensic Neuropsychological Assessment.” Co-authors are Gremillion, Songy, and Khurshid.
Authors will discuss ways to reduce the attempts by either patients of their referral sources to obtain services under false pretenses, including: Requiring payment prior to the Initial Clinical Interview; Assessing the initial call/referral to this office; Using the HIPAA compliant forms for office rules and procedures; Addressing the deception when discovered; Discontinuing involvement in the case; and Dealing with attorneys.
Tulane’s Dr. Stacy Overstreet and Dr. Bonnie Nastasi will chair the symposium, “Social-Emotional Universal Screening––Implications for Practice in Low-Resource, High Risk Contexts.” First author, Shereen Naser, MS, will present, “Predictive Validity of the BESS Student Report Form.” Paulette Carter, LCSW, and Alexandra Sims, MS, are co-authors.
Tulane’s Meredith Summerville, MEd, will present “The Ecomap As Self-Report Mental Health Screener for Early Elementary Students,” with co-author Nastasi.
Also presenting from Tulane is Allisyn Swift, MS, with her “Self-Inflicted Injury and Suicidal Ideation in Young Children Participating in Universal Screening.” Dustin Mars, MS, is co-author. Also, Jorge Verlenden, BS, will present “Triage Strategies in Low-Resource, High-Risk Contexts,” with co-authors Patrick Bell, MS, and Elizabeth Earnshaw, MSW.
More Coverage Next Issue
In Honolulu, a scenic drive off Oahu’s east shore. This year’s American Psychological Association will meet in Honolulu. (Photo courtesy of Hawaii Tourism Authority/Tor Johnson.)
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
The first meeting of the School Specialist Task Force was held June 28 at the state psychology board in Baton Rouge.
The group began work on a survey that will guide them in certain areas. Task force chair, Dr. Rita Culross told the Times, “The purpose of the survey is to seek input from school psychologists certified through the State Department of Education and psychologists licensed through LSBEP [Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists] on the possible regulation of school specialists through LSBEP.”
The agenda for the Friday meeting also included a review of the purpose of the task force and a review of definitions and language from other states that license school psychology specialists. The group discussed guidelines and a schedule for future meetings, and also reviewed Open Meeting Law, according to the agenda.
At a recent presentation by the psychology board, previous board Chair Lee Matthews noted that the task force was created to study the possible licensure of school specialists in Louisiana. The specialist degree in school psychology is offered by LSU– Shreveport and by Nicholls State University, and requires 72 hours of graduate training and 1200 hours supervised practice.
Members of the task force are Dr. Rita Culross, Professor at LSU, representing the LSBEP; Dr. Conni Patterson, Professor of Practice at Tulane University and past president of the Louisiana School Psychology Association; Dr. Steven Welsh, retired Department head for the Department of Psychology and Counselor Education at Nicholls, and the interim Dean of the College of Education; Dr. Carmen Broussard, Associate Professor of Psychology at Nicholls; Susan Ratterree, Delegate to the National Association of School Psychologists for the Louisiana School Psychological Association; and, E. Francoise Parr, President of the Louisiana School Psychological Association.
Dr. Carmen Broussard (L) and Dr. Conni Patterson discuss ideas at the recent meeting of the LSBEP task force to study the possible regulation of specialists in school psychology. Broussard is an associate professor at Nicholls and Patterson is a professor at Tulane.
E. Francoise Parr and Dr. Steven Welsh listening to discussion at the first task force meeting of the school specialist task force. Parr is president of the Louisiana School Psychological Association and Dr. Welsh has served as dean and professor at Nicholls State University.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 4, No. 11. Source pages: 16.
Having two babies 19 months apart was difficult. Two in diapers for too long strained my sense of humor. Cloth diapers for the one with sensitive skin added to the daunting responsibilities of motherhood. Going to school, doing well, getting a doctorate had been so easy. Going without sleep, without contact with the outside world, immersed in this new reality, strained my sense of order.
Fortunately, those arduous early days are long gone, and I am the proud mother of two remarkable adults. The rewards of raising them to become caring and responsible individuals are beyond measure. They are interesting and fun and wonderful. They are doing well, making their own way in life, and I have been free to enjoy my simple life in the country, and my sleep.
Being happily settled in a rural community, after years of being a mommy in a big city, has helped inspire my new media adventures. I find my immediate surroundings far more fascinating and important than what lies beyond these fields and woods, so once again I am less absorbed in the outside world. This time I'm more focused on what is happening on the land outside my door.
I do have the familiar feeling of having a couple of newborns, though. I am creating a brand new television show, "South River Stories®," and starting a brand new business, South River Stories, Inc. The show gives the business purpose and the business gives the show structure. I need both and I need to raise them to maturity.
I am living the long days and nights of early parenthood. Instead of a newly furnished nursery, I have a newly equipped office. Instead of diaper bags, I have camera bags. Instead of reading stories to my little ones, I am writing stories for a new audience. Bringing order to this new reality is hard work. I need sleep.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
The legislative session ended June 6 with last minute work on the state budget, HB 1. In what sources say was a compromise between House Democrats and House Fiscal Conservatives, and then between the House and Senate, the legislature passed the $25 billion budget.
Governor Jindal then used his line-item veto stripping $46 million from next year’s budget, mostly from higher education and health services, said a June 25 report for Times Picayune (NOLA.com).
The budget includes a pay increase for teachers, money for Southern University, and some efforts to reduce the use of one-time money. Governor Jindal’s vetos of funds for some Developmental Disabilities programs prompted a Letter to the Editor from the Governor to state newspapers (see this issue).
Department of Health and Hospitals and higher education took the major cuts, although the Governor noted in his announcement on June 21 that the $11 million cut to the Board of Regents is expected to be offset by increases in fees.
In the NOLA.com article, Health and Hospitals Secretary Kathy Kliebert said she worked to protect critical services when adjusting to the $26 million in cuts from state funds, which then doubled to $52 million with the loss of federal Medicaid matching funds.
Highlights of the session include:
• Legislation to create a new board for behavior analysts was signed by Governor Jindal June 17, becoming Act 351. The law goes into effect August 1, 2013.
• A bill establishing Mental Health Courts passed and was signed. It becomes Act 346, effective August 1. The law defines these mental health court treatment programs, including mental health court program, mental health court professional, post– adjudicatory mental health court programs, and co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse issues.
• The bill to criminalize sex with psychotherapy clients stalled in committee.
• A bill creating the “Fatherhood First” initiative passed, signed, and is effective in August. The secretary of the Dept. of Children and Family Services (DCFS) to convene and chair a “Fatherhood First Council.” Including in the council is the secretary or representative from: the Louisiana Workforce Commission, the Department of Education, Louisiana District Attorney’s Association. Two representatives from the Children’s Cabinet Advisory Board, one or more representatives of the clergy, and a member with expertise in male psychology and health are to be included.
• HB 281 was signed, becoming Act 308. Now, anyone providing mental health services who is not licensed under a state board will be required to be licensed under the Department of Health and Hospitals. Signed on June 17, the bill became effective when signed.
• The LPC board made changes in fee ranges and other aspects of the counselor law with SB 86, signed on June 7, becoming Act 173. New fee ranges and other items will go into effect January 1, 2014.
• The Louisiana Coalition for Violence Prevention was commended for it efforts to unite the behavioral health community in a violence reduction effort, in a Senate Concurrent Resolution.
• Two Anti-Human Trafficking bills were signed into law. HB 126 strengthens enforcement of current law that requires certain establishments to post the National Human Trafficking Hotline number. SB 88 helps sexually exploited children who may have been human trafficked by allowing for pre- adjudication diversion programs for juveniles alleged to have engaged in prostitution related offenses. This bill also creates a civil cause of action for victims, making victim restitution mandatory and establishing victim assistance guidelines for law enforcement, District Attorneys and the Attorney General’s office.
• SB 135 was passed having to do with increased reporting of mental health treatment. It requires increased reporting standards to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) database, including individuals who are ineligible to purchase firearms based on their involuntary commitment to an inpatient mental facility, found not guilty by reason of insanity, found not competent to stand trial or who are convicted of a violent crime. This legislation also establishes a way for individuals whose mental illness diagnosis has been reversed to regain their right to possess a firearm through a petition to the court.
• HB 442, now Act 389, increases access to drug treatment for drug offenders. The bill removes some of the barriers to the judicial Drug Court probation program and administratively expands the use of mandatory substance abuse treatment for eligible non-violent, non-sex drug offenders by authorizing the Department of Corrections (DOC) to create a substance abuse probation program. The legislation also incentivizes treatment for some who are presently in prison, by offering early release and intensive parole supervision to first and second, non-violent, non-sex offenders who have served two years, are within one year of release and have successfully completed a 90-day drug treatment program.
SB 107 (Act 214) supports treatment of youth who are involved in both the child welfare and juvenile justice systems (“crossover youth”) through a case management system that builds on the Coordinated System of Care (CSOC) created in 2011 for youth with severe mental illness.
SB 32 (Act 29) was signed on May 29. The legislation helps veterans access veteran-specific mental health or substance abuse services by granting judges, when sentencing veteran defendants, the authority to require that the Department of Corrections partner with the Department of Veterans Affairs to identify existing support programs. This will help ensure the opportunity exists to offer mental health and/or substance abuse treatment specifically tailored for veteran offenders if treatment is appropriate.
• SB 204 (Act 360) provides $251.6 million in financing and construction for 29 projects at Louisiana Community and Technical College campuses. Included in the 29 projects are 25 workforce projects, three student testing, career and service centers, and one safety related project.
• House Bill 720 was signed and goes forward as an arrangement allowing Children’s Hospital to purchase the New Orleans Adolescent Hospital. Children’s will agree to add and additional 16 pediatric or adolescent behavior health care beds. The legislation also mandated the expansion of the Autism Center on the Children’s campus and increasing services for inpatient-to-outpatient behavioral transition care.
The bill to establish an independent board for behavior analysts, HB 134, was signed by Governor Jindal in June and became Act 351. The law takes effect August 1 and board appointments are in the process of being made. Above: Members of the study commission that helped designed much of the bill, listens to debate and discussion. (L to R) John McBride, LCSW, representing the Louisiana State Board of Social Work Examiners; Cassie Bradford, BCBA; Janice Huber, BCBA; Dr. Denise Arellano, representing the Psychology Department at McNeese State University; and Dr. Dolleen Day-Keohane, BCBA-D. Photo: M. Dooley
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.