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Draft:Jared Skillings

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jared L. Skillings
Education
Occupations
  • Clinical psychologist
  • Healthcare executive
Known forMental health policy advocacy; American Psychological Association spokesperson on the 2019 Guidelines for Psychological Practice with Boys and Men and the 2024 Mental Health Parity Final Rule

Jared L. Skillings is an American clinical psychologist and healthcare executive. In May 2025 he joined Teladoc Health as its inaugural Senior Medical Director of the Mental Health Service Line. From 2018 to 2024, he served as Chief of Professional Practice of the American Psychological Association (APA), in which capacity he led 6 departments spanning clinical guidelines, healthcare policy, legal/regulatory affairs, innovation & technology, governance, and state advocacy across all 50 states + 4 territories. He was the APA's primary spokesperson on the 2019 Guidelines for Psychological Practice with Boys and Men and the 2024 Mental Health Parity Final Rule.

Education

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Skillings holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Cedarville University, where he graduated with Highest Honors in 3 years. He holds a Master of Arts (MA) and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in clinical psychology from the University of Toledo, which he completed in 2006. His clinical internship was at Jackson Memorial Hospital and his postdoctoral residency in Clinical Health Psychology was completed at McLaren Flint through the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine.

Career

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Early career

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Skillings began his career in clinical and administrative roles at Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services and quickly moved into senior leadership at Spectrum Health (now Corewell Health) in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he served as Chief of Behavioral Health.[1]

American Psychological Association (2018–2024)

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In May 2018, Skillings was appointed Chief of Professional Practice of the American Psychological Association, succeeding Katherine C. Nordal in the role.[2] The role was subsequently retitled Chief Clinical Officer.

Guidelines for Psychological Practice with Boys and Men

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In January 2019, the APA released its first-ever Guidelines for Psychological Practice with Boys and Men, a document more than a decade in development.[3] The guidelines examined how certain expressions of masculinity may influence mental health, behavior, and social relationships.

In USA Today, Skillings characterized the guidelines as addressing "negative traits such as violence or over-competitiveness or being unwilling to admit weakness," while emphasizing that masculinity absolutely "has positive traits — courage, leadership, protectiveness."[4] In the Chicago Tribune, he stated that "the risk is in the rigidity" of stereotyped masculine roles, adding that "there are a number of ways to be a man."[5] He also gave substantive interviews to The Verge,[6] Teen Vogue,[7] and CNBC,[8] connecting the guidelines to the contemporaneous Gillette "We Believe" advertising campaign addressing similar themes.

COVID-19 telehealth advocacy

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During the COVID-19 pandemic, Skillings led APA Services advocacy for federal regulatory changes expanding telehealth access for psychological services. He authored bylined practice guidance documents on rapid changes by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), including the expansion of Medicare telehealth coverage for psychological and neuropsychological testing[9] and the introduction of audio-only telephone billing codes.[10] He was interviewed by Time on the broader shift to telehealth in mental health care during the pandemic,[11] and by The Philadelphia Inquirer on workforce implications of expanded teletherapy.[12]

Insurance industry oversight

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Skillings was a public commentator on insurance industry practices affecting mental health access. He was quoted in Medscape Medical News on the 2021 UnitedHealth/Optum mental health parity settlement,[13] and was a co-signatory on a 2024 joint letter with the American Psychiatric Association criticizing UnitedHealthcare/Optum's pre-payment review practices for mental health services.[14]

Mental Health Parity Final Rule

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In September 2024, the Biden administration finalized regulations strengthening enforcement of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act. Skillings served as one of the APA's principal spokespeople for the rule, with quoted commentary appearing in Reuters,[15] Fortune,[16] and U.S. News & World Report.[17]

Teladoc Health

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Following his tenure at the APA, Skillings joined Teladoc Health as Senior Medical Director for Mental Health. He leads clinical operations for 62 million members, 2,300+ clinicians, and 1.1M+ annual visits across all 50 states, with accountability for P&L, quality performance, regulatory compliance, and technology-enabled care. He drove 20% year-over-year volume growth, including the first 100,000+ completed visit month in platform history.

Credentials

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Skillings is a licensed psychologist in Virginia and Michigan. He is also credentialed by the Psychological Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT) to provide telehealth services in 42 jurisdictions. He is board-certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology in three specialties: Clinical Psychology, Cognitive and Behavioral Psychology, and Clinical Health Psychology. He also holds the Society for Human Resource Management Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) credential, indicating expertise in leadership, communication, and relationship management. He holds a Six Sigma Black Belt Professional (SSBBP) certification from the Management and Strategy Institute, an IASSC-accredited body, indicating expertise in process improvement and operational effectiveness.

In December 2025, Skillings was elected to the board of directors of the National Register of Health Service Psychologists for a term running 2026 to 2030.

Selected publications

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Peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters

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  • Neimeyer, G. J., Macura, Z., Grus, C. L., Skillings, J. L., Bufka, L. F., & Rose, S. A. (2022). The future of education and practice in health service psychology: A Delphi study. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 53(2), 116–126. https://doi.org/10.1037/pro0000445
  • Nagelkerk, J., Bacon-Baguley, T., Jensen, S., Skillings, J. L., Trytko, J., Pearl-Kraus, L., & Baer, L. (2021). Interprofessional education to community outpatient rehabilitation health professionals for treatment of U.S. veterans with brain injuries. Journal of Interprofessional Education & Practice, 24. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xjep.2021.100429
  • Grus, C. L., & Skillings, J. L. (2018). Scope of practice considerations related to master's training and psychological practice. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 49(5-6), 311–313. https://doi.org/10.1037/pro0000198
  • Craner, J., Skillings, J. L., & Barnes, C. (2017). Obsessive-compulsive disorder: Under-recognized and responsive to treatment. Journal of Family Practice, 66(8), 503–506.
  • Lewandowski, A. N., & Skillings, J. L. (2016). Who gets a lung transplant? Assessing the psychosocial decision-making process for transplant listing. Global Cardiology Science & Practice, 26. http://dx.doi.org/10.21542/gcsp.2016.26
  • Skillings, J. L., & Lewandowski, A. N. (2015). Team-based biopsychosocial care in solid organ transplantation. Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings, 22(2-3), 113–121. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10880-015-9428-5 PMID 26260917
  • Skillings, J. L. (2012). Cognitive and behavioral health (pp. 267–433). In Warrior Traumatic Brain Injury & Polytrauma Health Provider Manual. Grand Rapids, MI: Grand Valley State University.
  • Skillings, J. L., Murdoch, W., & Porcerelli, J. H. (2010). "I fired my last doctor for not taking me seriously": Collaborating with a difficult patient in a multi-disciplinary primary care facility. Journal of Personality Assessment, 92(6), 533–543. https://doi.org/10.1080/00223891.2010.513291
  • Skillings, J. L., Porcerelli, J. H., & Markova, T. (2010). Contextualizing SEGUE: Evaluating residents' communication skills within the framework of a structured medical interview. Journal of Graduate Medical Education, 2(1), 102–107. https://doi.org/10.4300/JGME-D-09-00030.1
  • Dohrenwend, A., & Skillings, J. L. (2009). Diagnosis-specific management of somatoform disorders: Moving beyond "vague complaints of pain." Journal of Pain, 10(11), 1128–1137. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpain.2009.04.004

References

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  1. ^ "PTSD treatment guideline development panelists". American Psychological Association. 21 September 2017.
  2. ^ "APA Names New Chief of Professional Practice" (Press release). American Psychological Association. 8 May 2018.
  3. ^ Fitzsimons, Tim (10 January 2019). "APA issues first-ever guidelines for practice with men and boys". NBC News.
  4. ^ Dastagir, Alia E. (10 January 2019). "Psychologists call 'traditional masculinity' harmful, face uproar from conservatives". USA Today.
  5. ^ Thayer, Kate (17 January 2019). "'There are a number of ways to be a man': New guidelines for psychologists are intended to help in treatment of men and boys". Chicago Tribune.
  6. ^ Chen, Angela (11 January 2019). "New therapist guidelines receive criticism for claim that traditional masculinity harms men". The Verge.
  7. ^ Johnson, Daniel (25 January 2019). "Gillette's Ad on Toxic Masculinity Made Men Mad And That's the Problem". Teen Vogue.
  8. ^ Henney, Megan (16 January 2019). "Gillette's toxic masculinity ad earned a mixed response — but research supports the message". CNBC Make It.
  9. ^ Skillings, Jared L. (31 March 2020). "Further expansion of telehealth coverage for Medicare recipients". APA Services.
  10. ^ Skillings, Jared L. (3 April 2020). "New phone-only billing codes". APA Services.
  11. ^ "Teletherapy: How the COVID-19 pandemic transformed the practice". Time. August 2020.
  12. ^ "Teletherapy is here to stay. What does that mean for the future of mental health care?". The Philadelphia Inquirer. 17 September 2021.
  13. ^ "UnitedHealth/Optum settlement on mental health parity". Medscape Medical News. 2021.
  14. ^ "UnitedHealthcare's Optum strongly criticized by psychologist, psychiatrist groups". ClearHealthCosts. October 2024.
  15. ^ "Biden administration finalizes rule to strengthen mental health parity law". Reuters. 9 September 2024.
  16. ^ "Biden-Harris administration wants to make therapy more accessible to Americans". Fortune. 9 September 2024.
  17. ^ "Low-Cost Therapy Options for Every Budget". U.S. News & World Report. March 2025.
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Category:Living people Category:American clinical psychologists Category:Cedarville University alumni Category:University of Toledo alumni Category:American healthcare executives Category:American Psychological Association people

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