The Cost-Effectiveness of Psychodynamic Therapy: The Obstacles, the Law, and a Landmark Lawsuit

Susan G. Lazar, M.D., has presented and also published widely on the cost-effectiveness of psychotherapy, including the special place for psychodynamic therapy, in book chapters and articles. Her publications include coauthoring a 1997 American Journal of Psychiatry cover article The Economic Impact of Psychotherapy: A Review, two edited and coauthored special issues of psychiatric journals including the Psychoanalytic Inquiry 1997 supplement Extended Dynamic Psychotherapy: Making the Case in an Era of Managed Care as well as the Psychodynamic Psychiatry 2014 special issue Psychotherapy, The Affordable Care Act, and Mental Health Parity: Obstacles to Implementation, the volume Psychotherapy Is Worth It: A Comprehensive Review of Its Cost-Effectiveness, and the 2018 article The Place for Psychodynamic Therapy and Obstacles to Its Provision in Psychiatric Clinics of North America. She chaired the group that formed The Coalition for Psychotherapy Parity and coauthored its document Clinical Necessity Guidelines for Psychotherapy, Insurance Medical Necessity and Utilization Review Protocols, and Mental Health Parity which is available on the website of the Coalition, psychotherapyparity.org. Dr. Lazar served as a consultant to The Mental Health Work Group of The White House Task Force for National Health Care Reform in the Clinton administration and was instrumental in the inclusion of psychotherapy as a medically covered service without arbitrary limitation in the bills considered by Congress at that time. She is a Supervising and Training Analyst at The Washington Baltimore Psychoanalytic Society and Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at The George Washington University School of Medicine and The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Member and former Chair of The Committee on Psychotherapy at The Group for the Advancement of Psychiatry (GAP), Member of the American College of Psychiatrists, and Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association.CONTACT Susan G. Lazar, M.D. 9104 Quintana Drive, Bethesda, MD 20817.