Charge: Advocate for the interests of MPS members in clinical practice and their patients within entities that finance the provision of health care services.   This charge includes direct advocacy (with private and public insurers, regulators and legislators), communication with and education of MPS members and as an “early warning system” for member concerns.   The committee is additionally charged with an advisory role to the MPS Council and Executive Committee in urgent or timely issues that may arise in these areas.

Role(s): Primary (Working Committee, Advocacy, Education (newsletter), Out- reach), Secondary (Advisory, Education (major CME))

Mission Statement: The mission of the Healthcare Systems and Finance includes the following:
1. Advocacy - meet regularly and foster long-term working relationships with insurers to advocate for patients and providers
2. Legislation & Parity - meet with regulators to advocate parity and non- discrimination, advise the Council, Executive and Legislative Committees
3. Communication - communicate with MPS members, primarily via a regular monthly column in the newsletter & on the website
4. Education  -  sponsor  periodic  CME events on practice-related issues
5. Member Concerns - field MPS member front-line concerns and questions, answer questions when possible, incorporate concerns into the overall mission of the committee and liaison with APA on these concerns
6. Integration of Care – plan to incorporate a new sub-focus on ACOs, mental health  and  primary  care  integration, plan  to  liaison  with  Public  Sector Committee and sponsor a CME program focused on this area
7. “Ad hoc” issues – nimbly respond to ad hoc issues that arise unexpectedly; e.g. PMP and Psychiatrist members-in-training, telemental health.

Meeting(s): Monthly (third Tuesday of the month), Quarterly meetings with insurers, plus other meetings as necessary

Chair: 
Co-Chair: Michael I. Bennett, MD

Members: Rebecca Allen, Michael Bennett, Bruce Black, Jean Boyd, Philip Burke, Gregory Harris, Hon Ho, Pat Kaufmann, Tanya Korkosz, Laura Kramer, Steve Locke, Kirk Lum, Jason Mondale, Arthur Papas, Daniel Shaw, Sally Sveda, Marcia Tracy, Paul Wood.

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From THE CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS OF THE MASSACHUSETTS PSYCHIATRIC SOCIETY 

The President may establish or eliminate other committees or other organizational entities as may be necessary to implement the objectives of the MPS.

All Chairs of MPS committees or other entities are to be appointed yearly by the President [except where otherwise specified in the Constitution and Bylaws and shall be limited to three consecutive terms] unless this term limit is overridden by a two-thirds vote of the MPS Executive Committee.

No member of the MPS or organizational unit thereof shall speak in the name of, or encumber the funds of, the MPS unless such power is specifically granted by the MPS President or by a formal action of the Council of the MPS.

Article XVII –Attendance

Attendance at meetings of the Council, committees or other organizational entities: shall be open to all members of the MPS except for the meetings of the Ethics Committee. All organizational entities of the MPS may go into Executive Session.