APA recently took two steps intended to increase its members' participation in its Legal Consultation Plan (LCP). The Association shifted administration of the program from Professional Risk Management Services Inc. (PRMS) to its in-house Office of Membership and Member Benefits and is offering a $25 reduction in the annual program charge to members who sign up with the LCP before January 1, 1997.

Members do not have to be insured by PRMS to belong to the LCP.

The LCP, begun in 1982, gives participants access to legal advice in several crucial areas via a toll-free telephone number. The consultations are provided by the Washington, D.C., law firm of Crowell and Moring, where the program is coordinated by attorney Nancy Wheeler. The firm is also APA's legal counsel.

Among the practice concerns on which consultations are available are malpractice prevention, confidentiality limits and third-party access to medical records, legal aspects of dealing with potentially dangerous patients, record-keeping requirements, bill collection guidelines, third-party reimbursement, and dealing with nonphysician therapists. Members who join the LCP can also seek legal advice on topics related to starting a group practice and, with certain plan options, can have a plan attorney review professional contracts they are thinking of signing, including those with managed care firms.

An additional benefit to APA members who join the LCP is a free newsletter. Also, in certain circumstances legal memoranda can be prepared on members' behalf, and they will receive referrals to attorneys in their local area, when an LCP attorney determines that either of those options is appropriate.

Members who enroll can choose from four plan options. The "Full Plan" covers members for all questions related to their practice, but includes no contract reviews. The "Full Plan Plus 2" allows two professional contract reviews each year, while the "Full Plan Plus 5" includes five annual contract reviews. A reduced-rate plan for members-in-training includes two professional contract reviews annually.

For 1997 the annual cost of the Full Plan is $350, the Full Plan Plus 2 is $550, the Full Plan Plus 5 is $700, and the Members-in-Training Plan is $275. There is a $25 discount for members who join the LCP before January 1, 1997.

None of the plan options includes legal representation before agencies, courts, or legislatures, nor do they provide for attorneys to represent plan members in negotiations or arbitration procedures.

Application forms or a copy of the retainer agreement is available from Robert Palmer, APA Member Benefits Coordinator, 1000 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, Va. 22209-3901; phone (202) 682-6064; e-mail: RPalmer@psych.org.

(Psychiatric News, November 1, 1996)