Mission statement:
"NYSAN is a professional organization created to foster and promote the science and practice of neuropsychology in accordance with the national standards set by the American Psychological Association, American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology, and National Academy of Neuropsychology. Our activities may include but are not limited to professional advocacy and lobbying; education by means of meetings, conferences and workshops; and collaboration with other professional groups with similar goals and interests."
Beginning in January 2011, NYSAN offers joint membership to our organization and the New York Neuropsychology Group (NYNG) at a discounted rate. Joint members (particularly those living in the NYC area) can now obtain joint benefits of being part of a neuropsychological organization focused on practice issues and another (NYNG) focused on continuing education.
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Initiative:
NYSAN’s current primary initiative is to obtain a clear interpretation by the New York State Education Department that use of technicians in accordance with the standards set forth by national and international professional organizations in neuropsychology and federal Medicare laws is appropriate in New York. After the New York State psychology Scope of Practice legislation was adopted in 2003, questions arose regarding the ability of psychologists to employ and utilize psychology technicians. Technicians are used to assist in providing psychological and neuropsychological assessment services. A restriction of this nature would significantly adversely impact the practice of psychology and neuropsychology in New York particularly with respect to provision of services to underserved populations and to patients in remote regions of the state. This NYSAN initiative supports the profession of clinical neuropsychology and seeks to promote the public welfare.
Professional Affairs Committee
In addition to pursuing the technician matter, NYSAN also maintains a Professional Advocacy Committee (PAC), chaired by Edward Barnoski, PhD, ABPP-CN. The PAC has the following initiatives: a) achieving tangible improvements to the quality of professional life for New York neuropsychologists, b) advocating for fair compensation for neuropsychological services, c) working to maintain the practice boundaries between doctoral level psychology/neuropsychology and allied professions, and d) Increasing the awareness and visibility of neuropsychology as a doctoral level profession providing a medical service Other members of the PAC include Michael Santa Maria, PhD, ABPP-CN, Stephen Honor, PhD, ABPP-CN, Bridget Amatore, PhD, Maria Lifrak, ABPP-CN, Cindy Breitman, PhD, and Brian Lebowitz.
PAC accomplishments to date
Examples of accomplishments influenced by actions of the PAC over the past few years include:
a) Stopped a planned reduction by a NY insurance carrier and resulted in an overall increase of 12% reimbursement for 96118 services.
b) Worked with Medicaid to allow neuropsychologists to provide neuropsychological assessment services for Medicaid patients on an outpatient basis.
c) Advocated for neuropsychologist’s to be allowed to make return to play decisions in New York.
d) Produced substantial increase in fees provided for neuropsychological services performed for VESID.
e) Produced greater transparency and accountability in changes to reimbursement policies for CMS and helped to avert significant reductions in billable units per evaluation.
f) Worked with a large insurance carrier in upstate New York to have them renegotiate/increase their fees for the first time since 1992.
g) Resulted in elimination of arbitrary limits in units of testing per day that was previously imposed by GHI, as well as increase in billable hours per evaluation.
h) Developed alliances for advocacy with other state and regional neuropsychology groups in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Maine, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Texas and Washington State.
i) Taken an active role addressing the policy of one insurance carrier’s post hoc denials of neuropsychological evaluations which, at this point has stopped.
j) Begun development of a “Resource List” for Neuropsychologists in New York which we hope to included on the website in 2012.
k) Stopped UHC from relegating all neuropsychological evaluation to mental health portion of the plan benefit.
l) Eliminated the need for prior authorizations from some of the major insurance carriers.
m) Working to allow for reimbursement of graduate students and externs by insurance companies that are planning to disallow this practice.
n) Developed position papers on appropriate qualifications for practitioners to provide peer reviews and independent medical evaluations (currently on the website).
o) Developed a position paper describing the appropriate use of computerized assessments in neuropsychology and medical practices (currently on the website).
p) Obtained NYS Senate support/sponsorship for Assignment of Benefits Legislation.
q) Developed alliances with additional New York State Organizations (i.e., NYSMS, NYNG) to provide additional political advocacy and resources for educational activities.
r) Addressed issue with BC Excellus’s overly restrictive policy language which had resulted in denial of most requests for evaluations.
s) Convinced Union 32 BJ to process neuropsychological evaluations under the medical portion of the benefit plan.
t) Developed a Pediatric Affairs Committee to address issues specific to pediatric neuropsychologists in New York State.
u) Continued to work to raise public awareness about the unique role of neuropsychology in patient care and clinical research.
History of NYSAN:
NYSAN was by a group of New York neuropsychologists with the broad intent of acting as a trade organization for neuropsychology in New York. A critical matter that led to the formation of NYSAN was a potential restriction of trade matter involving interpretation of a 2003 Scope of Practice law for psychologists in New York. In May 2006, NYSAN was incorporated as a not-for-profit professional, type 501(C) 6 corporation. Founding members included William Barr, PhD, ABPP-CN, Ralph Benedict, PhD, ABPP-CN, Joanne Festa, Jennifer Manly, PhD, Robert McCaffrey, PhD, ABN, Michael Santa Maria, PhD, ABPP-CN, and Tony Wong, PhD, ABPP-CN. The following individuals have served as President of NYSAN:
1. Michael Santa Maria, PhD, ABPP-CN (2006-2007)
2. Maria Lifrak, PhD, ABPP-CN (2007-2008)
3. Dominic A. Carone, PhD, ABPP-CN (2008-2011)
4. Joanne Festa (2012-present)
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