For over 25 years as Senior Special Counsel in the Office of Professional Legal & Regulatory Affairs, Alan has led major legal and regulatory initiatives involving health insurer practices and health care compliance. His background as a litigator with deep expertise in insurance law has been invaluable to APA, State, Territorial, and Provincial Psychological Associations, and the many members they represent. Alan’s advocacy has had a national impact. His work includes participating in class action lawsuits against major insurers for abusive practices; challenging reimbursement policies that undermined the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act; shaping state and federal legislation through commentary and testimony; and initiating complaints with attorneys general that led to major policy changes. He has supported landmark state efforts—such as securing independent hospital practice rights for psychologists in California and protecting psychologists’ use of testing technicians in New York.
A respected ambassador for APA, Alan has built constructive—yet firm— relationships with leaders in the insurance industry. His success in convincing Anthem to end problematic audits by Santé Analytics, ultimately leading to the company’s dismissal, exemplifies his influence and persistence. His professionalism has earned admiration even from those he has challenged.
Alan has been tireless in serving APA members, offering countless presentations, articles, and consultations on insurance practices, parity, HIPAA, telehealth, and other legal matters. His efforts have saved psychologists significant financial losses and strengthened their ability to serve patients.
Alan’s career embodies APA’s mission to advance psychology for the benefit of society. His guidance and collaboration have created a lasting legacy.
As the 2026 APA president, I am honored to present this well‑deserved Presidential Citation to Alan Nessman.