Date: March 16, 2004
Contact: Peter Wilson
(202) 336-5910
- or -
Luana Bossolo
(202) 336-5899

Psychologists Recognize Rep. Jim Ramstad for Leadership on Mental Health Policy

WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative Jim Ramstad (R-MN) last night announced that it’s time for Congress and the President to act and end discrimination against people with mental health disorders and pass mental health parity legislation.

“The American people should not be forced to wait any longer for Congress to knock down the barriers to treatment for mental illness,” said Ramstad. “Congress must hear their call and pass the Paul Wellstone Mental Health Treatment Act this year. Passing this mental health parity bill is not only the right thing to do; it’s also the cost-effective thing to do.”

Ramstad was honored with the American Psychological Association’s (APA) Outstanding Leadership Award for his strong commitment to mental health parity and other mental health issues. The award was presented at APA’s annual State Leadership Conference in Washington, DC before an audience of practicing psychologists from the United States and Canada.

“APA applauds Rep. Ramstad’s leadership and long-standing support on mental health issues,” said Russ Newman, Ph.D., J.D., APA’s executive director for professional practice. “We look forward to working with him this year to increase access to mental health care for millions of Americans by making sure the Paul Wellstone Mental Health Equitable Treatment Act becomes law.”

Ramstad is the lead Republican cosponsor of the Paul Wellstone Mental Health Equitable Treatment Act and introduced it into legislation with U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI). Under Ramstad’s leadership the bill has gained more House Republican cosponsors (42) than ever before. It is the companion bill to that introduced by Senators Pete Domenici (R-NM) and Edward Kennedy (D-MA). The bill closes loopholes in federal law by calling for group health plans to stop using arbitrary limits on mental health parity benefits different from those used with medical and surgical benefits. Ramstad also is the sponsor of legislation to expand parity to services for chemical dependency.

APA’s Outstanding Leadership Award is given annually to a member of Congress who has prominently championed the goals of professional psychology.

The American Psychological Association (APA), located in Washington, DC, is the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States and is the world’s largest association of psychologists. APA’s membership includes more than 150,000 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. Through its 53 divisions and its affiliations with 60 state, territorial and Canadian provincial associations, APA works to advance psychology as a science and profession, and as a means of promoting health, education, and human welfare.

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