A word from the President....

Dear Members,

Our October meeting gave HPS the opportunity to welcome Dr. Jair Sores, UT-Houston's new chairman of psychiatry, to the community and hear his talk on pediatric bipolar disorders. We also learned about the success of the October Depression Screen Day that Dr. Dawnelle Schatte, HPS president-elect, helped organize at the Houston Community College West Loop Campus. Over 80 people were screened and a number of members volunteered their time that day. Dr. Edythe Harvey was also honored for her service last year as HPS President at the meeting.

Our next HPS meeting will be a joint affiar with the Houston Psychological Association on Wednesday, January 27, 2010 with Baylor's Catherine Romer, PhD discussing dialectical behaviorial therapy. This should be an excellent opportunity to interact, network and reconnect with some of our psychologist colleagues.

I am please to report that the 53rd TSPP Annual Convention and Scientific meeting in Galvestion had the highest attendance for their scientific meeting since 1990 with almost 300 registrants. Houston was well represented and Dr. Andrew Harper received a TSPP Psychiatric Excellence Award. A variety of subjects were discussed in committee meetings including improving membership numbers, consideration of utilizing social networks to promote member participation and the dissemination of information, addressing the oragnization's financial future, and opening up the dialogue regarding potential physician conflicts of interest.

TSPP's Government Affairs Committee gave a 2009 legislative summary that highlighted recent and future state and national legislative issues. TSPP continues to work proactively on the important issue of prescribing psychotropic medications to children under 16 years old which is being studied by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. Although HB 3127 did not pass, it attempted to prohibit the prescribing of psychotropic medications to children that were not approved for use in children by the FDA. This could have signifacant implications for child psychiatrists as well as larger consequences for the overall practice of medicine in Texas.

Of course, the U.S. House's recent passage of the Health Reform Bill was a hot topic as we all wait to see what happens to the bill in the Senate. Fellow psychiatrists were talking about concerns over Medicare reform, the implications of health care reform on our recent mental health parity gains, and the FTC's delay in implementing its "red flags rule." Although 2010 will be a legislative "off year" it is an important time to build relationships with your Senators and Representatives in anticipation of the 2011 session.

I hope that everyone has a safe and happy holiday season!