Resolution on Independence of Psychologists

Adopted by Council of Representatives in August 2015. (Suggested citation is included with references.)

Consistent with the American Psychological Association's mission to advance the development, communication and application of psychological knowledge to benefit society and improve people's lives (APA, 2009), this Resolution on Independence of Psychologists aims to affirm that doctoral-level health service psychologists, to which this Resolution applies, are trained professionals who are licensed to practice independently and provide their full range of services, in accordance with scope of practice laws and regulations, as defined by state statute without the need for or expectation of supervision by any other profession (APA, 1996, 2003).

WHEREAS, the American Psychological Association affirms the doctorate as the minimum educational requirement for entry into professional practice as a psychologist (APA, 2006);

WHEREAS, psychologists are licensed to independently provide the full range of psychological services as defined in their respective scope of practice laws and regulations (APA, 2010);

WHEREAS, Psychologists’ scope of practice includes direct service delivery, consultation, and training within teams of other health care providers (APA, 2013);

WHEREAS, Psychologists’ training and expertise are well-suited for collaboration with other disciplines, such as: enhancing communication with patients; observing behavior change in relation to symptom/ disease progression, medication, and other interventions; attending to problems with continuity of care; facilitating decision making; problem solving to maximize adherence to treatment regimens; adjusting practices as needed for patients with developmental, behavioral, or psychiatric conditions; attending to gender, age, culture, spirituality, socioeconomic status, and other factors related to health beliefs and behavior; attending to life span developmental issues and aging; involving family or other support systems in order to maximize treatment outcome; ensuring quality of life considerations in treatment decision making, including end-of-life care; and negotiating differences of opinion among patients, families, or health care providers (APA, 2013);

WHEREAS, Psychologists are encouraged to seek the highest level of staff membership within the departments, specialty units, and/or clinical programs in health care delivery systems, as well as the broadest range of privileges within those systems, that is, consistent with their training and expertise (APA, 2013);

WHEREAS, psychologists’ roles may be limited or they may face barriers to attaining staff appointments and full clinical privileges within some health care delivery systems;

WHEREAS, psychologists remain the only doctoral level health care specialty not included in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) physician definition for the purposes of providing clinical psychologist services under the Medicare program (Title XVIII of the Social Security Act, 2014);

WHEREAS, the practice of psychology is regulated by omnibus boards in certain states and by the medical board in Louisiana for psychologists credentialed to prescribe;

WHEREAS, hospitals and other health care delivery systems, individual physicians, group practices, and other health care businesses are merging and consolidating to strengthen their position in the marketplace, increase access to care, provide expanded services, and coordinate care, psychologists are prohibited from incorporating in and owning practices with physicians and other health care providers in many states, provinces and territories. As a result, psychologists may be excluded from business and other collaborative opportunities emerging under the implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ("Affordable Care Act") through administrative and clinical structures of Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) which are being formed by physicians to deliver integrated health care services (Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, 2010).

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the American Psychological Association affirms that doctoral-level psychologists licensed to practice independently are trained professionals who provide their full range of services, known as scope of practice, as defined by state statute and regulations without the need for or expectation of supervision by any other profession.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the American Psychological Association supports the inclusion of psychologists in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) physician definition on par with medical and other doctoral-level trained providers in those fields who are currently so defined by federal law.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the American Psychological Association affirms that the most appropriate licensing and oversight board in any state, province or territory for the services provided by psychologists is an independent psychology licensing board.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the American Psychological Association supports removal of barriers to quality care, including prohibitions on cross-specialty, business partnerships or models, pursuant to establishment of Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) and the implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ("Affordable Care Act").

American Psychological Association. (2015). Resolution on Independence of Psychologists. Retrieved from: https://www.apa.org/about/policy/independence-psychologists

American Psychological Association. (2009). American Psychological Association Strategic Plan. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/about/apa/strategic-plan/default

American Psychological Association. (2010). Model act for state licensure of psychologists. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/about/policy/model-act-2010.pdfopens in new window

American Psychological Association. (2006). Doctorate as minimum entry into the professional practice of psychology. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/about/policy/chapter-4b#doctorate-minimum

American Psychological Association. (2003). Health service health service psychologists as primary health care providers. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/about/policy/chapter-10b#psychologists-health-care

American Psychological Association. (1996). Recognition of health service providers. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/about/policy/chapter-10#recognition-service

American Psychological Association (2013). Guidelines for psychological practice in health care delivery systems. American Psychologist, Vol 68(1), 1-6. doi: 10.1037/a0029890

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Pub.L. 111-148, 124 Stat. 119, codified as amended in sections of the Internal Revenue Code and in 42 U.S.C. Retrieved from https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-111publ148/html/PLAW-111publ148.htmopens in new window

United States Social Security Administration (2014). Part E—Miscellaneous Provisions Title XVIII of the Social Security Act (as administered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.) Title XVIII appears in the United States Code as §§1395-1395ccc, subchapter XVIII, chapter 7, Title 42. Retrieved from https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/ssact/title18/1861.htmopens in new window