Protecting and Expanding Access to Care

Amid unprecedented threats to mental health funding and access in early 2025, APA Services Inc. led a swift and effective response. Our advocacy preserved critical services for millions of Americans, from veterans to children, who might have otherwise lost vital mental health support when they needed it most. 

Rapid Response Protects Vital Medicaid Mental Health Services

Medicaid is America's largest funder of behavioral health services, supporting 37% of children and 11% of people with disabilities. When recent proposed cuts threatened to slash funding for these vulnerable populations and school-based behavioral health programs, APA took immediate action.

APA Services joined forces with the Modern Medicaid Alliance, coordinating a letter signed by 65 national organizations that urged congressional leaders to preserve Medicaid's essential benefits. Our member community also demonstrated powerful grassroots support, with 2,574 members responding to our Action Alert—generating 7,795 messages to Congress that highlighted how these cuts would devastate critical mental health services for those most in need.

Federal Hiring Freeze Exemptions Secured for Mental Health Professionals

When the January 2025 federal hiring freeze threatened to stop psychologist recruitment in key agencies, APA Services took swift action. Working directly with U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley, APA Services—backed by Division 18 experts—secured crucial exemptions for VA and Bureau of Prisons psychologists.

These exemptions preserve essential mental health care for veterans and incarcerated individuals who face significant health disparities and have high treatment needs. The advocacy also protected the critical APPIC Match program for the VA and BOP, maintaining this vital doctoral and postdoctoral training pathway for future psychologists.

Defending Education Financing for Psychology Students

APA Services continues to defend federal programs essential for doctoral psychology students’ education financing. We’re leading the health professions education community in opposing House and Senate efforts to cut or eliminate graduate student loans and Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF).

Advocating for Sustained Psychology Workforce Funding

Our advocacy focuses on securing FY 2026 funding for key psychology workforce programs, including the Graduate Psychology Education Program and the Minority Fellowship Program. During our recent Council Hill Day, over 100 psychologists conducted more than 250 meetings with congressional members and staff to highlight psychology's importance.

We’ve submitted testimony to the House Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Subcommittee and partnered with congressional champions to resist harmful policy changes at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Protecting Mental Health Access in Schools

Schools are a primary mental health access point in many communities, especially underserved areas facing geographic or economic challenges. When educational resources are reduced, mental health care access suffers—particularly for populations with no alternative sources for psychological support.

APA Services countered efforts to eliminate the Department of Education by joining the Committee for Education Funding in a letter to U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon. Our members sent over 8,000 messages to Congress opposing this effort through an APA Action Alert.

Reducing Barriers to Mental Health Funding for Underserved Institutions

For the third consecutive year, APA Services successfully advocated to waive institutional matching requirements for Minority-Serving Institutions and community colleges applying for the Garrett Lee Smith Campus Suicide Prevention Grant.



While other institutions must match a portion of grant funding with their own contributions, this waiver removes financial barriers for under-resourced institutions seeking to improve campus mental health services. SAMHSA implemented this crucial waiver based on APA-drafted language previously adopted by Congress.

Safeguarding Telehealth Access

Telehealth has become essential for mental health service delivery, especially for those facing geographic, mobility, or resource barriers. When Medicare telehealth flexibilities were scheduled to expire—threatening care for millions of beneficiaries—APA Services took action.

Our members sent over 11,000 messages urging Congress to delay the in-person requirement. On March 14, 2025, Congress passed a Continuing Resolution extending Medicare telehealth flexibilities to September 30, 2025, including the waiver for mandated in-person visits. We continue advocating for permanent solutions like the Telemental Health Care Access Act.

We also responded to federal Requests for Information on the DEA's proposed tele-prescribing rules, ensuring regulations are evidence-based and consider diverse populations’ needs.

Protecting Veterans’ Confidential Mental Health Care

The VA has long used telehealth to reach isolated and rural veterans. When a recent policy requiring VA psychologists to return to office threatened confidential mental health services, APA Services partnered with the American Psychiatric Association in addressing concerns in a letter to VA Secretary Doug Collins.

Our joint letter highlighted how these policies may compromise veteran privacy and access to confidential mental health care, an issue recently featured in The New York Times.

Championing Youth Mental Health Legislation

APA Services led the introduction of the EARLY Minds Act, which would allow states to use SAMHSA block grant funds for critical prevention and early intervention services focused on youth mental health. This legislation reflects research showing that early intervention is the most cost-effective approach to addressing mental health challenges before they reach crisis levels.

Advancing Integrated Care Models

APA continues championing integrated care models that improve outcomes across populations. APA Services advocated for the COMPLETE Care Act to enhance Medicare reimbursement for behavioral health integration, supporting evidence-based approaches that have proven especially effective for underserved populations.

Ensuring Continuity of Care for Military Families

APA Services addressed military healthcare payment delays by advocating with the Defense Health Agency to expedite TRICARE payments. These efforts ensure psychologists can continue providing timely and consistent care to military members and their families.

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