OPPORTUNITY for comment: APA requests public comment: "Principles for Quality Undergraduate Education in Psychology"

Call for Public Comment through May 31, 2010: Principles for Quality Undergraduate Education in Psychology

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"The APA Board of Educational Affairs (BEA) has posted the Principles for Quality Undergraduate Education in Psychology (Draft, January 2010) for review and comment. These recommendations were developed following the 2008 APA National Conference on Undergraduate Education in Psychology.

In accordance with Association Rule 30-8, BEA is circulating the Principles for Quality Undergraduate Education in Psychology to APA governance groups, APA Divisions, State Psychological Associations, other organizations in psychology, departments and schools of psychology, and members of the public.

Feedback will be gathered through May 31, 2010. At the conclusion of public comment, the document will be circulated to all APA governance groups with a request that the Council of Representatives approve as Association policy the Principles for Quality Undergraduate Education in Psychology.

Instructions
All comments are to be submitted electronically via the Education Directorate Public Comment website at http://apaoutside.apa.org/EducCSS/Public/. 

In order to submit comments, participants must first register. Registration requires participants to use an email address, and to develop a password.

Select the Principles for Quality Undergraduate Education in Psychology from the list of projects to view instructions, register, and to post comments. To submit feedback, please select "edit comments."

Comments may be submitted through May 31, 2010.
If you have any questions, contact Robin Hailstorks, PhD (RHailstorks@apa.org) or
Martha Boenau (MBoenau@apa.org) at 202-336-6140.

Martha Boenau | Associate Director, Office of Precollege and Undergraduate Programs

Education Directorate

American Psychological Association

750 First Street N E , Washington , DC 20002-4242

Tel: (202) 336-6140 | Fax: (202) 336-5962

email: mboenau@apa.org | www.apa.org

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© 2010 Regina G. Claypool-Frey
Disclaimer: This blog publishes news and announcements only as a service to interested persons, the posts are the responsibility of the individual author, and unless otherwise noted do not constitute nor claim to represent the official position of ABA International, its officers or associated entities. This blog makes no representation as to the accuracy of the report and readers are strongly encouraged to consult and reference the primary sources noted.

IN THE NEWS: Father featured in Chicago Tribune series files suit against practitioners of autism alternative therapy

The Chicago Tribune reports that James Coman, a father highlighted in a recent series of columns on alternative autism treatments has filed suit in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois requesting a jury trial and requesting damages against two physicians,their medical practices and an analysis lab .

The suit alleges that the physicians and their medical corporations are culpable of medical negligence, lack of informed consent, intentional misrepresentation, negligent misrepresentation,and battery.

The suit also alleges that the laboratory report used as a basis for application of chelation and other proposed alternative treatments was based on an improper method of testing to obtain the report results and alleges that the laboratory is culpable for negligence, intentional misrepresentation,and civil conspiracy with the physicians and health care corporations named in the suit.

For further reading
Doctors sued over ‘dangerous’ autism treatment
By Patricia Callahan, Tribune reporter
Chicago Tribune
5:19 p.m. CST, March 4, 2010

ScienceBlogs/Respectful Insolence on the suit
Link to a copy of the filed lawsuit
March 5, 2010

Heavy Metals Suit: Are Experimental Autism Docs Taking Legal Risks?
David Whelan
The Science Business: A health care blog
March 5, 2010 - 12:04 pm

"Dubious Medicine"
Chicago Tribune series on unproven treatments for autism
Trine Tsouderos and Patricia Callahan, Chicago Tribune

© 2010 Regina G. Claypool-Frey
Disclaimer: This blog publishes news and announcements only as a service to interested persons, the posts are the responsibility of the individual author, and unless otherwise noted do not constitute nor claim to represent the official position of ABA International, its officers or associated entities. This blog makes no representation as to the accuracy of the report and readers are strongly encouraged to consult and reference the primary sources noted.

State legislation - Maryland HB 1091 & SB 1028 autism insurance bills; would cover applied behavior analysis. Committee hearing March 11, 2010

The Maryland General Assembly is currently entertaining two bills HB 1091 and SB 1028, that would provide health insurance coverage of applied behavior analysis for those with autism spectrum disorders.

A hearing for the first bill, HB 1091, will occur in the House of Delegates’ Health and Government Operations Committee at 1:00 pm Thursday, March 11, 2010, House Office Building, 6 Bladen St., Annapolis, MD 21401-1991.
Autism Votes has an action alert at their Facebook page for advocates for HB 1091 with a list of specific strategic actions that they would like taken on behalf of supporting the bill.
Please see their Facebook page for those details.

Maryland HB 1091: Health Insurance - Coverage of Autism Spectrum Disorders
Bill text
Introduced and read first time: February 17, 2010
Assigned to: Health and Government Operations

Cross-filed bill,

Senate Bill 1028: Health Insurance - Coverage of Autism Spectrum Disorders 
Bill text
Introduced and read first time: February 25, 2010
Assigned to: Rules

The synopses of both bills:

Requiring insurers, nonprofit health service plans, and health maintenance organizations to provide coverage for the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders and treatment of autism spectrum disorders; requiring specified treatment of autism spectrum disorders to be prescribed and provided by specified individuals; clarifying that specified provisions of the Act may not be construed as limiting specified benefits otherwise available to an individual; prohibiting specified limits on visits to an autism services provider; etc.

Both bills defines applied behavior analysis, include it under the treatment category of "habilitative or rehabilitative care" as prescribed by a licensed physician, psychologist, as provided for under the bills,

Applied behavior analysis would be provided by an individual
(1) Licensed under Title 14 [physician] or Title 18 [psychologist] of the Health Occupations Article, or under the supervision of an individual licensed under Title 14 or Title 18 of the Health Occupations Article; or
(2) A Board Certified Behavior Analyst or a Board Certified Associate [sic] Behavior Analyst credentialed by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board.

For more information
Maryland House Bill 1091
Maryland Senate Bill 1028
Maryland General Assembly

Autism Votes Facebook page on the 3/11/10 hearing
Autism Votes Maryland

Thursday, March 4, 2010
Coffee, Bagels, and Autism Insurance Reform in Maryland

© 2010 Regina G. Claypool-Frey
Disclaimer: This blog publishes news and announcements only as a service to interested persons, the posts are the responsibility of the individual author, and unless otherwise noted do not constitute nor claim to represent the official position of ABA International, its officers or associated entities. This blog makes no representation as to the accuracy of the report and readers are strongly encouraged to consult and reference the primary sources noted.