Physicians met with key lawmakers last month to urge passage of a new mental health parity law and discuss amendments to rules governing addiction treatment records and more funding for gun safety research.

Leaders from America’s Frontline Physicians: The Group of Six, of which APA is a member, flew into Washington, D.C., last month to meet with half a dozen lawmakers on Capitol Hill on behalf of its 560,000 physician and medical student members.

During his first visit to the Hill as APA president, Bruce Schwartz, M.D., spoke with lawmakers about the importance of passing the Mental Health Parity Compliance Act (see box on page 18); he also met with the staff of Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) to thank them for their help in securing the bill’s introduction.

Other pressing health issues raised by the Group of Six included amending rules governing addiction treatment records, combating vaccine misinformation and rising drug prices, and funding public health research on gun safety. “Politicians on both sides of the aisle were extremely receptive to our concerns about 42 CFR Part 2, the need for parity enforcement, and funding for research on gun violence,” Schwartz said, summing up the day.

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Author: Linda M. Richmond

Published online: July 3, 2019