Legislators and politicians of every stripe in Hawaii who know something about psychiatry and mental health most likely know about Krishna Kumar, M.D.
For more than two decades Kumar has been a force in the state's battles over insurance coverage of mental illness, affordable access to the antipsychotic clozapine, psychologist prescribing privileges, stigma, and other issues. In that time, he has garnered honors and commendations from political leaders in the Aloha State at every level; and this year, Bryan Baptiste, mayor of the County of Kauai, Hawaii, named March 8 “Dr. Krishna Kumar Day.”
“Dr. Kumar's 35-year journey as a psychiatrist has always been about his dedication to our community and especially our children,” Baptiste said. “He is able to provide treatment and care to many psychiatric patients and their families, collaborating with various health care professionals for comprehensive care of the patient, and removing the stigma of mental illness by improving awareness.”
The honor caps a career devoted to working in the public arena to improve treatment of mental illness and to raise the status of psychiatry. Kumar (who became an APA distinguished life fellow during the convocation at APA's 2006 annual meeting in Toronto) has served as president of the Hawaii Psychiatric Medical Association (HPMA) and for seven years as the chair of its Public Affairs Committee. In those capacities and as a clinician and private citizen, he has worked with the Hawaii Medical Association, American Medical Association, advocacy groups, legislators, employers, and insurance leaders in the state.
Among the efforts in which he has been involved, Kumar cites the HPMA's work to improve health insurance coverage for mental illness as among the most gratifying.
“In 1975, the first outpatient visit to obtain treatment from a psychiatrist was not covered by the insurance companies in Hawaii, and there was an annual cap of $500 for all outpatient psychiatric treatment,” he said. “Today six psychiatric disorders have unlimited insurance coverage, and other psychiatric disorders have 24 outpatient visits a year for each family member. There is a provision for exchanging two outpatient visits for each hospital day of coverage.”
As chair of the district branch's Public Affairs Committee, Kumar led a candlelight ceremony for two consecutive years at the Hawaii statehouse to raise public awareness about mental illness and to combat stigma. The ceremony attracted more than 3,000 people each time, he said.
In 1995 Kumar received an Exemplary Psychiatrist Award from the National Alliance on Mental Illness “for exemplifying the kind of professional treatment and personal caring we strive to make available to all people who have severe mental illnesses.” ▪
