KEYNOTE ADDRESS: The Fight for Psychology’s Priorities on Capitol Hill

Jeff Cook, Director of Field and State Operations, APA Practice Organization

APA staff is constantly at the Capitol, representing psychologists in important legislation. Jeff Cook, director of field and state operations for the APA Practice Organization, will highlight the how healthcare reform, Medicare reimbursement, mental health parity and health information technology will affect psychologists, clients and the profession. Learn about the latest developments on these important issues.

Jeff Cook has served as director of field and state operations for the APA Practice Organization (APAPO) in Washington, D.C. since 2006. Mr. Cook directs APAPO’s grassroots lobbying program, coordinating the Federal Advocacy Network and training and mobilizing practicing psychologists across the country. Prior to joining APAPO, Mr. Cook developed extensive experience as a public affairs consultant on civil rights and education issues. His work has received significant media attention, including CNN, CNBC, C-SPAN, New York Times, New York Daily News, Roll Call and The Hill. In 2005, Mr. Cook explored a race for Congress from New York's Hudson Valley. He earned his law degree from NYU School of Law and his undergraduate degree from Washington and Lee University. With family in University Heights, Mr. Cook is a frequent visitor to Ohio.

Plenary Session: Healthcare Reform-What Does It Mean for You?

Peter Ambrose, Jr., PhD, Regional Vice President, Anthem, Mary Jo Hudson, Director, Ohio Department of Insurance, Cathy Levine, JD, executive director, Universal Health Care Action Network of Ohio

What key things should you understand about healthcare reform?

What does healthcare reform mean for behavioral healthcare?

Rumors abound about how healthcare reform will impact mental health services and psychology in particular. This plenary session will cover these concerns from three critical perspectives: regulatory, insurer and consumer.

Mary Jo Hudson, director, Ohio Department of Insurance, Dr. Peter Ambrose, Jr., regional vice president, Anthem, and Cathy Levine, executive director, Universal Health Care Action Network of Ohio (UHCAN), will tackle these questions and more for you in relation to healthcare reform during Thursday morning’s plenary session.

All three presenters will talk about how the reform will affect behavioral health. Specifically, Director Hudson will talk from the perspective of the Department of Insurance, and speak about the Department’s role, what issues they are seeing that need to be addressed and more.

Dr. Ambrose will inform attendees about how Anthem plans to implement key aspects of the reform bill, the key things you should understand about healthcare reform and how it will impact small business owners.

Ms. Levine will cover topics such as where gaps remain and where behavioral health needs to focus future advocacy efforts.

Peter A. Ambrose, Jr., PhD, MBA, currently acts as head of behavioral health operations for The Anthem Health Plans, which is the largest health insurer in the country. Trained as a pediatric psychologist, with an emphasis on pediatric neuropsychology, he received his MA in psychology from Boston College and his PhD from The University of Missouri-Columbia. Dr Ambrose also completed an MBA from The Olin School of Business at Washington University in Saint Louis. He worked as a school psychologist in Boston and held academic appointments at The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and The Washington University School of Medicine, where he worked within the department of pediatrics, neurology and psychiatry. Before joining Anthem, he was vice president of behavioral health for the Barnes Jewish Christian Health System in Saint Louis. He currently is also as a consultant for The Olin School of Business.

Mary Jo Hudson is the 46th Director of the Ohio Department of Insurance and started on Jan. 8, 2007 after being appointed to the position by Governor Ted Strickland. Under Director Hudson's leadership, the Department has made great strides to protect insurance consumers and promote a healthy insurance market. The Department has increased its efforts to empower Ohio's seniors to protect themselves and has fostered collaboration among its internal divisions and with other state agencies to combat predatory insurance sales practices that are directed toward Ohio senior citizens.

Prior to her appointment as Director of the Department of Insurance, Director Hudson served on Columbus City Council from 2004 to 2006. Director Hudson also practiced law for 18 years, most recently with the Columbus offices of Bailey Cavalieri, LLC, focusing on insurance regulation and liquidation law, consumer finance and retail law compliance, unclaimed property planning and reporting, commercial lending, state and federal advertising law and general corporate matters. From 1989 to 1995, Director Hudson worked as an attorney with the Ohio Department of Insurance and as General Counsel for the Office of the Ohio Insurance Liquidator.

Director Hudson received her BA in public administration from Miami University in 1985. She received her JD from the University of Cincinnati College of Law in 1988, graduating with honors.

Cathy J. Levine, JD is the executive director of the Univers al He alth Care Action Network of Ohio (UHCAN Ohio), a consumer advocacy organization promoting qu ality, affordable he althcare for all. Cathy convened Ohio Consumers for He alth Coverage (OCHC), a
co alition of diverse consumer interests building the consumer voice in healthcare reform. She is an appointee of Governor Strickland to the Ohio Health Coverage and Quality Council. Her policy and advocacy work has included Medicaid and Medicare, hospital billing practices, immigrant he althcare, local access efforts and delivery system reform. Cathy received her BA from New York University and her JD from New England School of Law, in Boston.