APA Urges New Administration, Congress to Prioritize Mental Health
With an unprecedented number of Americans continuing to struggle with mental health and substance use disorders, APA is urging the new administration and Congress to ensure that they have access to care.
In letters to President Donald Trump and the 119th Congress, APA has submitted a series of bipartisan policy recommendations that would improve access to mental health care, ensuring patients receive the treatments they need to live healthy, productive lives.
The letters, signed by APA CEO and Medical Director Marketa Wills, M.D., M.B.A., outline the challenges that many patients face when trying to access psychiatric care even when the need is clearly significant. They note that, while suicide continues to be a leading cause of death, with the rate increasing by about 36% between 2000 and 2022, nearly 150 million people live in mental health professional shortage areas. Along with lack of access, stigma continues to be a significant barrier to quality, evidence-based psychiatric care.
L. Lee Tynes, M.D., Ph.D.
“In the next four years, we strongly urge you to prioritize strengthening the ability to respond to an increasing demand for psychiatric services,” Wills wrote in the letter to Trump. Similarly, members of Congress were told that their election comes at a time when the United States “is experiencing a profound crisis of mental health and well-being.”
“APA is holding fast in advocating for improved access to high-quality psychiatric care for all Americans,” said L. Lee Tynes, M.D., Ph.D., chair of APA’s Council on Advocacy and Government Relations and professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Tulane University School of Medicine. “We have made clear that mental health is a nonpartisan issue.”
The letter to Trump notes that, during his first term, he declared the opioid crisis a public health emergency and enacted telehealth flexibilities during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. These actions resulted in a decrease in the number of opioid deaths and improved access to care during the pandemic. Yet more work is needed. “Early intervention and treatment of mental illness and substance use disorder can lead to cost savings for individuals, health insurers, employers, and society,” the letter stated.
Some of the policy solutions outlined in the letters to Trump and Congress include:
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Improve access to inpatient psychiatric beds: APA recommends that states should be allowed to receive federal exemption from the institutions for mental disease (IMD) exclusion, a longstanding policy that prohibits the federal government from providing federal Medicaid funds to states for services provided to Medicaid-eligible individuals who are patients in IMDs.
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Improve Medicare physician reimbursement and alleviate administrative burdens: Eliminating or restricting the use of prior authorization would significantly reduce administrative burdens.
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Increase investment in the psychiatric workforce: Expanding Medicare-supported graduate medical education slots for psychiatry would address psychiatric workforce challenges, as would ensuring continued entry and renewal pathways for physicians holding J-1 or H-B1 visas.
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Address the stimulant medication shortages: Organizing a private-public sector approach that incorporates systems that improve coordination and transparency between agencies will not only help fix the current stimulant shortage but also prevent future shortages.
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Ensure clinically appropriate access to telehealth services: Permanently eliminating the mental health coverage requirement for an in-person visit within six months of the first telehealth appointment would help ensure continuity of care, especially for patients in rural and underserved areas.
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Incentivize implementation of the collaborative care model: With its robust evidence base demonstrating clinical efficacy, cost savings, and the ability to function as a workforce multiplier, the collaborative care model could augment the existing workforce and enhance access for millions of people who are struggling with mental health or substance use disorders.
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Support maternal mental health: Funding programs and resources aimed to address maternal mental health would protect the well-being of mothers, children, and families, particularly as the leading cause of pregnancy-related death in 2021 was an underlying mental health condition.
The letters emphasize APA’s eagerness to work with the new leadership in Washington to address the ongoing mental health challenges impacting the nation. “If we do not invest in mental health and substance use disorder treatment, our systems will continue to get overwhelmed, costs will continue to rise, and many Americans will lack access to vital services,” Wills wrote.
Tynes urged his fellow psychiatrists to get involved in advocacy through APA, noting that there are numerous opportunities to do so. They can sign up for Advocacy Alerts, join the Congressional Advocacy Network, and plan on attending the APA 2025 Annual Meeting, which will provide opportunities to learn more about advocacy and hear success stories from other mental health professonals. “Anyone can be an advocate, no matter who they are,” Tynes said, “and there are plenty of opportunities to get involved.” ■
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