Federal

Federal advocacy typically seeks legislators' support for issues such as Medicare reimbursement rates, increase in funding for Graduate Psychology Education and Minority Fellowship Programs, and the inclusion of Psychologists in the Medicare physician definition.  More information on federal advocacy for psychology can be found on the MPA Federal Advocacy page.

The American Psychological Association (APA) holds an annual Practice Leadership Conference designed to give state leaders in psychology additional tools and resources to advocate for important issues.

Get involved in advocacy efforts with APA by joining APA's Psychology Advocacy Network to receive weekly updates on the latest legislative issues impacting psychology on Capitol Hill.

State

Advocacy for LLPs: Supporting HB 5785 to Remove Career-Long Supervision

The Michigan Psychological Association (MPA) stands firmly in support of House Bill 5785, a pivotal piece of legislation introduced in the Michigan House of Representatives. This bill seeks to address the growing mental health professional shortage by removing the career-long supervision requirement for Limited License Psychologists (LLPs). This change would empower close to 4,000 LLPs in Michigan to practice independently within their scope of established professional experience, expanding access to essential mental health services across the state, particularly in underserved rural areas.

As previously communicated in MPA’s member newsletters, our leadership has consistently advocated for the removal of outdated barriers that hinder LLPs from fully utilizing their skills and training. HB 5785 aligns with our mission to enhance mental health service accessibility and support the professional growth of our members. The bill also proposes an increase in post-degree supervision to 4,000 hours, ensuring that LLPs are thoroughly prepared for independent practice while maintaining high standards of care.