Electronic Summer 2026 | Issue 67

APA Assembly 2026 May Annual Meeting Report

By: Arden Barnett, MD

Your Illinois APA Assembly representatives (Drs. Linda Gruenberg, Arden Barnett, Joshua Nathan, Susan Scherer) participated in a very fruitful meeting of the APA Assembly before the APA national meeting began last month in San Francisco. A variety of topics were brought forward for consideration by the Assembly, and below you can see the items discussed. Also included, you will see if the item was approved by the Assembly or not.

For more information on any particular item, you can click on the link below which will take you to an Assembly meeting summary page. More details are provided about each item listed on that page. 

Again, please let your IPS leadership and Illinois Assembly representatives know about any issue you think should be addressed by the APA on a national level or at our Midwest regional level. We want to work with you to bring the concerns of our members to the attention of fellow APA psychiatrists throughout the region and the country. The purpose of the Assembly is to be aware of what is affecting our member psychiatrists in their day-to-day life and practice, and bring these important matters to greater attention within the APA. Let us know if you have any questions about any items below you might review.

Happy reading!

Action Papers:

ASM Final Action Papers- May 2026.pdf | Powered by Box

  • 2026A1 12.A Development of an APA Position Statement on the Clinical Roles in Interventional Psychiatric Services (ECT, TMS, Ketamine, and Esketamine) [APPROVED]

  • 2026A1 12.B Creating an APA Position Statement on Gambling Harm Mitigation [APPROVED]

  • 2026A1 12.C Call for Study of Focused Practice Designation in Public and Community Psychiatry [APPROVED]

  • 2026A1 12.D Ethical Use of Artificial Intelligence and Legal Implications for Psychiatrists [APPROVED]

  • 2026A1 12.E Improving Access to Inpatient Psychiatric Care and Guidance on EMTALA Responsibilities in Psychiatric Emergencies [FAILED]

  • 2026A1 12.F Strengthening the Role of Psychiatry in the Behavioral and Clinical Management of Obesity [APPROVED]

  • 2026A1 12.G APA Statement on Establishing a Standardized Postvention Protocol for Psychiatric Training Programs [APPROVED]

  • 2026A1 12.H APA Examine and Advocate for Leave Policy Models that Support Physicians’ Wellbeing, Flexibility, and Equity [FAILED]

  • 2026A1 12.I Advancing Evidence-Based Medical Screening in Emergency Behavioral Health [APPROVED]

  • 2026A1 12.J Creating Clear and Operational Definitions of Parity for Mental Health Treatments [FAILED]

  • 2026A1 12.K Highlighting Geographic Variation Among Health Insurance Coverage for Psychiatric Care [APPROVED]

  • 2026A1 12.L Supporting Countertransference Education for Non-Psychiatry Physicians [APPROVED]

  • 2026A1 12.M An APA Position Statement on Age-Triggered Physician Cognitive Assessment Is Needed [APPROVED]

  • 2026A1 12.N APA to Address Gaps in Recognition of and Treatment for Disordered Eating and Specific Issues Seen with Eating Disorders in Marginalized Communities by Creating a Position Statement and Resource Document [APPROVED]

  • 2026A1 12.O De-escalation and Sensitivity Training for Immigration and Customs Enforcement Officers to Minimize Collective Trauma [FAILED]

  • 2026A1 12.P Support for Enhanced Regulatory Safeguards for Use of Valproate in People of Childbearing Potential [APPROVED]

  • 2026A1 12.Q Affiliate Membership Model for Family Physicians within APA District Branches [FAILED]

  • 2026A1 12.R District Branch Ethics Complaints: Clarifying Due Process, Referrals Options and Resource Commitments [FAILED]

  • 2026A1 12.S Member Dues Discount for Psychiatrists Serving in Leadership Positions [FAILED]

  • 2026A1 12.T Title and Transparency – The Erosion of Informed Consent [APPROVED]