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APA helps drive recognition of World Mental Health Day in the House of Representatives
October 19, 2020
APA collaborates with a bipartisan group of members of the House of Representatives on a resolution recognizing the importance of World Mental Health Day.
October 19, 2020
APA hosted its first digital Advocacy Summit to expand advocacy efforts focused on increasing affordability of graduate study and the importance of student loan forgiveness for front-line health-care providers, researchers, and psychologists impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
October 19, 2020
APA sent letters to the Secretary of Defense as well as the Senate and House Armed Services Committees urging them to address a recent Inspector General report, which found that service members and their families were not receiving timely mental health treatment.
October 19, 2020
APA and state psychological associations push for changes in the proposed Medicare physician fee schedule for 2021.
October 19, 2020
APA has partnered with the Black Women’s Health Imperative and the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence to provide mental wellness opportunity during COVID-19
APA-supported Bipartisan National Veterans Suicide Prevention Day resolution agreed to in Senate
October 19, 2020
Senate designated Sept. 30, 2020, as National Veterans Suicide Prevention Day, day before annual military suicide report released
APA joins coalition letter urging CMS to make Medicare telemental health services permanent
October 16, 2020
APA and others in the mental health community call on CMS to make some telemental health services permanent.
Federal research leaders spotlighted in 'Psychological Science Agenda'
October 16, 2020
A new series of articles features conversations with federal science leaders about research topics and priorities.
APA supports congressional briefing highlighting NIDDK’s commitment to health disparities research
October 16, 2020
NIDDK director emphasizes the four major avenues to combat health disparities within the NIDDK’s mission areas.
APA welcomes new congressional policy fellows
October 16, 2020
Learn more about our new psychology fellows working on Capitol Hill and consider becoming an APA Executive Branch Science Fellow or Congressional Fellow
APA joins forces to launch a Friends of National Institute of Mental Health coalition
October 6, 2020
APA and five other advocacy organizations have formed a coalition to support the NIMH.
Congress funds government through Dec. 11, averting shutdown
October 6, 2020
Congress delays contentious funding decisions until after the election; House Democrats ready revised stimulus bill for consideration.
APA-supported bill on improving care for incarcerated pregnant women passes House
October 6, 2020
The Protecting the Health and Wellness of Babies and Pregnant Women in Custody Act passed the House on Sept. 30.
House passes veterans mental health care bills
October 5, 2020
On Sept. 23, the House of Representatives passed two large veterans mental health packages: the Veterans COMPACT Act and the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act.
Expressing opposition to proposed changes to visas for international students
October 5, 2020
APA is working with coalition colleagues to push back against proposed changes to international student visas.
Supporting national firearms safe storage campaign
September 28, 2020
APA joins Brady Campaign and Ad Council for launch of End Family Fire suicide prevention campaign.
Expanding broadband access to support telehealth, education, and equity
September 28, 2020
With tens of millions of Americans without access to high-speed broadband, APA endorsed a new Senate bill aimed at closing the digital divide.
Broad coalition endorses independent practice for Medicare psychologists in all settings
September 22, 2020
The Medicare Mental Health Access Act would remove unnecessary physician supervision of psychologist's services in certain Medicare treatment settings, including skilled nursing facilities and partial hospitalization programs.
September 22, 2020
APA answers written questions from members of the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee on health equity, suicide prevention, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health.
Research relief for federal science agencies
September 21, 2020
APA continues to support a systematic approach to allowing scientists at academic institutions to recover lost funds for research and personnel funded by federal science agencies.
APA priorities included in house veterans’ affairs committee legislative hearing
September 21, 2020
The House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs heard testimony about several of APA’s priorities including expanding practice authority for prescribing psychologists, instituting quality standards for community care providers, and mandating lethal means safety training.
Scientific community rallies for continued investment in NIH
September 21, 2020
APA joined more than 350 organizations urging Congress to make funding for NIH a national priority by providing sustained, predictable funding for NIH research.
APA pushes for improved access to benefits for former service members with mental health conditions
September 17, 2020
APA submitted comments to the Federal Register addressing the VA proposed rule that would make it easier for former service members with other-than-honorable discharges to get their benefits by taking into account any mental health conditions that may have led to their other-than-honorable discharge.
Promoting telehealth services coverage in private-sector plans
September 4, 2020
APA and other major mental health organizations join in asking Department of Labor to promote expanded telehealth services coverage for majority of Americans with private health insurance.
APA recognizes veterans and service members during suicide prevention month
September 4, 2020
Veterans and service members die by suicide at higher rates than the general U.S. population, and APA is taking an active role in advocating for improved access to mental health care for military members and veterans.
September 4, 2020
APA responds to a request for information on enhancing rigor, transparency and translatability to improve biomedical research involving animal models.
Supporting state psychology association engagement with members of Congress in local advocacy
September 4, 2020
APA secures Iowa Psychological Association president invitation for an event highlighting non-opioid approaches to pain management.
Advocating for student debt relief
September 4, 2020
APA 2020 Virtual sessions highlight APA’s advocacy efforts on behalf of psychology graduate students and early career psychologists with student loan debt.
Supporting prompt access to Medicaid for inmates reentering society
September 4, 2020
APA calls on Congress to include the Medicaid Reentry Act in next COVID-19 relief bill.
Ensuring that investigations of campus sexual misconduct are reflective of psychological science
September 4, 2020
APA helped draft, and has endorsed, legislation that would minimize re-traumatization from campus sexual misconduct investigations.
CMS proposes Medicare payment cuts to psychologists’ services
August 26, 2020
Psychologists can help prevent reimbursement cuts by writing to members of Congress.
APA calls for comprehensive policy changes to end the US racism pandemic
August 26, 2020
APA CEO Arthur C. Evans Jr., PhD, joins two other national leaders to call for action to end the racism pandemic in the United States.
Urging the incorporation of behavioral research in strategies for COVID-19 vaccine success
August 26, 2020
APA CEO Arthur C. Evans Jr., PhD, writes op-ed on the importance of behavioral science in encouraging the public to get vaccinated once there is a COVID-19 vaccine.
Briefing the Congressional Hispanic Caucus on the mental health needs of Latinx children
August 26, 2020
APA member updates the Congressional Hispanic Caucus on immigration work at the border and the mental health impact of COVID-19 on immigrant children.
Supporting legislation to strengthen health care systems research agency
August 26, 2020
APA endorses legislation to support research on the most critical health care systems issues for COVID-19.
Monitoring non-discrimination in health care regulations
August 26, 2020
On Aug. 17, a federal judge blocked Trump administration regulations that would roll back rules prohibiting discrimination in federally funded health-care programs. The decision came one day before the regulations would go into effect. .
Working collaboratively to support behavioral and psychological research
August 11, 2020
House funding measure provides funding increases for NIH and AHRQ.
Supporting the behavioral health of K-12 students
August 11, 2020
APA has endorsed a bill that would provide support and technical assistance to schools for student mental and behavioral health services.
APA pushes Facebook to eliminate hate speech
August 11, 2020
APA CEO Arthur C. Evans Jr., PhD, sent a letter to Mark Zuckerberg, founder and CEO of Facebook, urging him to recognize the psychological harm caused by hate speech on his platform and to eliminate its spread.
Supporting expanded access to health care for older minority adults in the COVID-19 pandemic
August 11, 2020
APA called on the Senate Special Committee on Aging to expand access to behavioral health services for seniors to reduce COVID-19 racial health disparities.
Shaping the national drug abuse research plan
August 11, 2020
APA makes recommendations on priorities for drug abuse research at the National Institutes of Health.
APA urges continued focus on veterans mental health as major bill unanimously passes US Senate
August 11, 2020
APA continues to press Congress for inclusion of priorities in veterans mental health legislation as it moves to the House.
Kennedy Forum supports Medicare physician definition bill
August 11, 2020
The Kennedy Forum releases blog on outdated Medicare policy and impact on psychologists and patients.
August 7, 2020
A number of APA-supported programs would receive funding increases in 2021.
Securing increased funding for psychology workforce training programs
August 7, 2020
The FY21 House Funding Bill supports important APA funding priorities in workforce training programs.
Supporting K-12 students in response to COVID-19
August 7, 2020
APA urges Congress to increase support for distance learning and students with disabilities.
August 7, 2020
APA supports legislation to provide full Public Service Loan Forgiveness benefits to borrowers whose employment has been impacted by COVID-19.
Protecting confidential records of immigrant children’s mental health sessions
July 29, 2020
APA-supported language on confidentiality of immigrant records included in House funding bill.
APA-supported bills advance in key House Committee’s first ever virtual votes
July 29, 2020
The House Energy and Commerce Committee on July 15th approved several important pieces of mental health legislation supported by APA.
Actively supporting DACA recipients and psychologists
July 29, 2020
An APA-sponsored webinar series provides mental health resources for DACA recipients and the psychologists who serve them.
Training women leaders in psychology on effective advocacy
July 29, 2020
APA’s Leadership Institute for Women in Psychology participants are advocating for emergency supplemental funding to address the higher incidence of intimate partner violence during COVID-19.
Providing research and support for house resolution addressing mental health disparities
July 29, 2020
APA supports House Resolution concerning behavioral health disparities.
July 15, 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted a sea change in coverage of telehealth services, which historically has been frustrated by various statutory and regulatory limitations on coverage.
APA voices opposition to policy targeting international students
July 15, 2020
APA has expressed strong opposition to the recently issued guidance from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on international students studying at U.S. colleges and universities.
APA urges Congress to invest heavily in mental health in the next COVID-19 relief legislation
July 15, 2020
In a letter to Senate leadership, APA CEO Arthur C. Evans, Jr., PhD, urged Congress to act quickly on the Phase IV package to address the COVID-19 pandemic and the rising mental and behavioral health crisis.
Advocating for psychology students and borrowers impacted by COVID-19
July 15, 2020
APA has endorsed legislation that aims to lower the cost of federal student loans and make education more affordable for many doctoral psychology students.
Working to support American Indians and Alaska Natives
July 15, 2020
APA submitted written testimony to the House Energy and Commerce Committee for its July 8 hearing, “Addressing the Urgent Needs of Our Tribal Communities."
June 30, 2020
APA CEO Arthur C. Evans, Jr., PhD, testifies at a hearing before the House Energy and Commerce Health subcommittee concerning the impact of COVID-19 on mental and behavioral health and highlighting the importance of APA-supported legislation.
Advancing research on cannabis: Dose response and growing concerns
June 30, 2020
Partnering with the College on Problems of Drug Dependence to advance cannabis research.
Alleviating social isolation and loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic
June 30, 2020
APA Senate testimony recommends increasing access to mental and behavioral health services to combat social isolation in older adults.
Providing psychological expertise to US senate hearing on policing
June 30, 2020
APA calls for reforms to our nation’s policing policies and practices.
Working to protect psychologists from Medicare payment cuts
June 30, 2020
Urging Congress to avoid reimbursement cuts with Medicare’s new evaluation and management service codes.
APA ensures psychologists have access to PPE through Amazon
June 19, 2020
Following talks between APA and Amazon leadership, Amazon quickly made resources available to all licensed psychologists.
Telehealth guidance by state during COVID-19
June 11, 2020
State emergency orders relevant to licensed psychologists during the COVID-19 public health crisis.
Telepsychology expands to meet demand
June 1, 2020
APA advocacy convinced regulators to change telehealth rules to increase access to care during the pandemic.
CMS recognizes PSYPACT licensure requirements for interstate practice
May 22, 2020
Psychologists will be able to provide services to more Medicare beneficiaries during the COVID-19 pandemic.
How ageist beliefs undercut us all
May 18, 2020
Research shows that ageism harms older adults’ physical and mental health. But they aren’t the only victims.
Protecting nursing home residents during COVID-19
April 30, 2020
Nursing homes have become hotbeds for COVID-19 — as well as for loneliness, fear and stress for residents, their families and staff.
How COVID-19 may increase domestic violence and child abuse
April 8, 2020
National crises ramp up stress among couples and families. Psychologists identify the risks and point to resources that can help.
COVID-19 isn’t just a danger to older people’s physical health
March 18, 2020
As the world grapples with COVID-19, psychologists are pointing to a major new report that underscores the prevalence — and risks — of loneliness in older people and urges health-care providers to take action to help.
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