Mental Health Working Group

AfPA’s Mental Health Working Group is a network of policy-minded health care providers who advocate for patient-centered care.
By participating in advocacy initiatives and the development of educational resources, working group members ensure that the clinician’s perspective informs policy discussions that impact health care for people living with mental health conditions.
To learn more, or to join AfPA’s Mental Health Working Group, please email info@allianceforpatientaccess.org.

Leadership
Rimal Bera, MD, serves as the chairman of AfPA’s Mental Health Working Group. Dr. Bera is a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the University of California, Irvine Department of Psychiatry. Dr. Bera is a distinguished life fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and serves as the Medical Director for Universal Care Behavioral Health for California.
Resources
White Papers & Policy Briefs
- Patient-Centered Care: A Position Statement
Alliance for Patient Access, August 2022 - 2022 Meeting Summary
Alliance for Patient Access, July 2022 - The Dangers of Non-Medical Switching for Mental Health Patients
Alliance for Patient Access, May 2022 - Mental Health Care & Non-Medical Switching
Alliance for Patient Access, March 2022 - Mental Health Care Reform After the COVID-19 Pandemic
Alliance for Patient Access, August 2021 - 2021 Meeting Summary
Alliance for Patient Access, May 2021 - Telemedicine: A Position Statement
Alliance for Patient Access, July 2020 - In Conversation: A Physician Discusses COVID-19 and Telemedicine
Alliance for Patient Access, April 2020 - In Conversation: A Physician Discusses COVID-19 and Insurance Prior Authorization
Alliance for Patient Access, April 2020 - High Out-of-Pocket Costs: A Position Statement
Alliance for Patient Access, July 2019 - Non-Medical Switching: A Position Statement
Alliance for Patient Access, July 2019 - Co-Pay Accumulator Programs: A Position Statement
Alliance for Patient Access, May 2019 - Prior Authorization: A Position Statement
Alliance for Patient Access, April 2019 - A Study of the Qualitative Impact of Non-Medical Switching | Abstract
Alliance for Patient Access, February 2019 - Step Therapy: A Position Statement
Alliance for Patient Access, January 2019 - Co-pay Accumulator Programs: What Can Policymakers do to Protect Patients?
Institute for Patient Access, August 2018 - Co-pay Accumulator Adjustment Programs
Institute for Patient Access, June 2018
Videos
- Why Health Care Providers Should Care About ICER
Institute for Patient Access, October 2019 - Non-Medical Switching Hurts Patients
Alliance for Patient Access, March 2019 - The Co-Pay Surprise
Alliance for Patient Access, May 2018
Infographics
- How Telemedicine Can Help Mental Health Patients
Alliance for Patient Access - Barriers to Mental Health Care
Alliance for Patient Access - Mental Health Parity
Alliance for Patient Access - The Mental Health Treatment Disconnect
Alliance for Patient Access - How Non-Medical Switching Hurts Patients
Alliance for Patient Access - The Ugly Co-Pay Surprise
Alliance for Patient Access
Blogs