WASHINGTON — U.S. Representative Tim Murphy (R-PA) received the American Psychological Association's (APA) Outstanding Leadership Award last night for his advocacy on behalf of psychologists and persons with mental health disorders. Rep. Murphy, one of only three psychologists in Congress, was honored at a dinner held during APA's annual State Leadership Conference.
Rep. Murphy is an active cosponsor of the Paul Wellstone Mental Health Equitable Treatment Act, which would put insurance coverage for mental health services on par with physical health services. He has promoted that bill, and other issues such as improved mental health care for veterans, through his position as co-chair of the Congressional Mental Health Caucus.
Murphy was also praised for his work ensuring that psychologists will not be restricted in the types of services they can provide to children. During discussions in 2004 about renewing the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), language was proposed that stipulated only physicians or those licensed through their state's health board would be able to evaluate children with learning disabilities. Psychologists in many states are licensed or certified through state agencies other than a state's health board, and the proposed IDEA language could have inadvertently limited the ability of psychologists to provide needed mental health services to children. Working with colleagues, Rep. Murphy saw that the proposed language to IDEA was removed before a final vote.
"We are extremely pleased to have strong advocates like Rep. Murphy speaking on our behalf in Congress," said Russ Newman, APA's executive director for professional practice. "His work will help ensure that psychologists can continue to provide important mental health services to children."
APA's Outstanding Leadership Award is given annually to a United States Senator or Congressman 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 divisions in 55 subfields of psychology and its affiliations with 58 state, territorial, and Canadian provincial associations, APA works to advance psychology as a science, as a profession, and as a means of promoting health, education and welfare.