Welcome to the Professional Affairs Section!

Here you will find clinical resources and tools, updates on our advocacy work, and information about health plans.

Free Practice Consultations for MPA Members Only!

As a benefit of membership, MPA offers members brief (15-minute) practice consultations with the Director of Professional Affairs, Dr. Andrea  Barnes. These consultations can cover a wide range of issues related to health plans, regulatory agencies, and practice management. Frequent topics include: unresolved issues with a health plan, questions about Massachusetts regulations or licensure, proper use of CPT codes, record keeping, and teletherapy.

Members can schedule a practice consult by emailing Dr. Barnes (barnes@masspsych.org) or by calling the MPA office (781-263-0080). Members can also access the Practice Tools and Resources and the Health Plans pages on our website, which contains additional information on these topics.

Disclaimer: The Director of Professional Affairs works to provide the best possible consultation based on current knowledge of statutes, regulations, ethics codes, and health plans but does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness or timeliness of that information. It is recommended that the advice of an attorney be obtained before making any decisions that could have legal consequences.

Updated Practice Tools and Resources Page!

This page covers information on a range of practice-related issues, both in general (HIPAA, evidence-based practice, sample forms, etc.) and specific to Massachusetts (mandated reporting forms, record keeping requirements, licensure, etc.).

Instead of providing a narrative on these topics, these pages provide a list of resources, including websites, articles, and sample forms, to keep it easy to navigate and ensure that you have access to the most up-to-date information. Our goal in creating the Practice Tools and Resources pages was to provide you with an easy-to-access and central location where you can quickly gather the information you’re looking for, as well as one that you can take your time exploring, to learn more about new resources or aspects of clinical practice.

Professional Affairs Updates

A list of all the updates for the health plan, legislative, and regulatory advocacy we are working on, as well as important updates for licensure.

Legal and Ethical Issues

Links to information about MPA members-only resources for free legal and ethical consults.

Legislative Affairs

Descriptions of all the legislative bills MPA supports and the advocacy we’re engaging in.

Health Plans

Links to resources and updates for Medicare, MassHealth, and the most common commercial health plans in Massachusetts.