WASHINGTON, March 10, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Oregon House Speaker Tina Kotek received the 2013 State Legislator of the Year Award from the American Psychological Association Practice Organization (APAPO) in recognition of her ongoing support of prescriptive authority for psychologists and her critical involvement toward the passage of the Coordinated Care Organization legislation, which lead the country in a pilot Medicaid reform project. House Speaker Kotek, a Democrat, was presented with the award at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. on March 10.

"House Speaker Kotek is a strong voice for mental and behavioral health. Oregon's residents and psychologists cannot ask for a better ally and leader for mental health in their state legislature," said Katherine C. Nordal, Ph.D., executive director for professional practice at the American Psychological Association.

House Speaker Kotek has been a long-time proponent of health legislation including laws providing access to mental and behavioral in Oregon. During her tenure in the Oregon House of Representatives, she has advocated for the expansion of health care to all children, fought for the control of psychotropic drugs provided to children in foster care, and supported prescriptive privileges for appropriately trained psychologists.

House Speaker Kotek represents District 44, North/Northeast Portland, Oregon. She has served in the Oregon House of Representative since 2007 and is co-chair of the Legislative Administration and Legislative Counsel committees.  

"House Speaker Kotek has been a champion for mental and behavioral health in Oregon. Her continued support of prescriptive privileges for psychologists and her work on passing the Coordinated Care Organization legislation has improved the lives of countless Oregonians," said Robin Henderson, PsyD, Past President of the Oregon Psychological Association.

APAPO's State Legislator of the Year Award has been presented annually since 2002 to a state legislator who has prominently championed the goals of professional psychology.

The Oregon Psychological Association is a professional nonprofit association whose purpose is to advance psychology as a science and a profession in order to promote human knowledge and welfare, to foster and maintain high standards of practice and to make information available about psychology.

The American Psychological Association Practice Organization is an affiliate of the American Psychological Association, the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States. APA's membership includes more than 137,000 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students.

SOURCE American Psychological Association