Legislative Advocacy
A primary mission of the APA Practice Organization is to promote the professional interests of practicing psychologists in all settings through a wide range of advocacy activities, focusing on policy makers, consumers of services, and the healthcare marketplace. The Practice Organization actively works with state psychological associations, APA practice divisions, the Association for the Advancement of Psychology, and with a broad spectrum of health care organizations to benefit psychologists and their patients. Listed below are some of our current legislative advocacy materials.
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Congress Should Enact the Senate Mental Health Parity Bill
Government Relations Office
A strong push is needed to pass a mental health parity bill into law this year. The Senate has passed a strong bill, and the House has now passed a similar bill, but time is short. Please urge negotiations now between the House and Senate so that mental health parity can become law this year.
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Congress should include in pending Medicare legislation provisions to protect the Medicare mental health benefit
by Government Relations Staff
Congress should estore reimbursement cuts to psychologists' and social workers services in Medicare legislation to protect the mental health benefits that Medicare patients recieve.
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The Senate Mental Health Parity Bill Provides Complete Parity
Government Relations Office
Answers to Common Questions about S. 558, the Mental Health Parity Act of 2007
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Close Loopholes in Mental Health Parity Law
by Government Relations Staff
April 2007 -- Fact sheet on the proposed "Mental Health Parity Act" and how this bill closes parity loopholes.
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Protection Eludes Consumers: 1996 Act Is Not Enough
by Government Relations Staff
February 27, 2007 -- The promise of protection from discrimination in insurance benefit design has failed millions of American families who need mental health services.
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Psychologists Promote Health and Well-Being Throughout Our Nation
by Government Relations Staff
February 27, 2007 -- A fact sheet that highlights the important role psychologists play in multiple settings.
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CMS Payment Rule Gravely Impacts Medicare Mental Health Services
by Government Relations
Congress should make psychologists eligible for Medicare evaluation and management (E&M) services reimbursement by January 2007 under the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed “5-year review” regulation, or else remove psychologists from the severe payment cuts scheduled to take place in that regulation.
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CMS 5 Year Review
Government Relations
August 7, 2006--The undersigned organizations, representing hundreds of thousands of dedicated health care professionals, ask Congress to delay severe Medicare payment cuts that will take place on January 1, 2007, unless Congress acts.
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Congress: Delay the 5-year Review Cuts in Medicare
Support Continued Funding for the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment Act - 2006
by Government Relations Staff
Members of Congress are urged to support $15 million in funding in FY 2007 for the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act of 2004 (“the Act”).
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The Health Information Technology Promotion Act Could Undermine Patient Privacy
By Government Relations
February 28, 2006 Psychologists are concerned that the Health Information Technology Promotion Act (H.R. 4157), proposed by Representative Nancy Johnson, could weaken the privacy of patient records afforded through the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Rule and State laws.
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Mental Health Parity References
by State Advocacy Staff
This section contains links to documents on the following topics related to mental health parity: the integration of mental health and medical care; medical cost offset; government reports and actuarial studies; testimony in legislatures; fact sheets and press releases; and substance abuse parity. It also contains some selected bibliographies.
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Equal Coverage for Mental Illness
By Dr. Stephen Pfeiffer
As the season shifts into gear, filled with expectations of good cheer, parties and family gatherings, many people will experience a time of self-evaluation, loneliness, reflection on past failures and uncertainty about the future. Depression, anxiety and stress have become all too familiar by-products of the holiday season.
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"Pass the Wellstone Act"
By REGISTER EDITORIAL BOARD
No one gets to pick the illness that strikes them. Yet health insurers frequently get to pick which illnesses they'll pay to treat.
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Mental Health Insurance needs to Equal Physical Coverage
By STEPHEN FABICK
Having a mental health disorder can be as serious as having a heart attack or any other debilitating, life-threatening physical health disorder. It also can contribute to physical ailments.
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