The Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact is CS/SB 56: Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact. It was introduced by Florida State Senator Gayle Harrell. The Bill was filed on December 9 of, 2022, referred to health policy on January 7, 2023, and introduced on March 4, 2023. As of April 6, the Bill is on the committee agenda for the Health and Human Services appropriations committee. Hence, it is still in progress.
Social Problem
The Bill was prompted by the constant insufficient mental health professionals in Florida. According to Gunn (2023), Florida State is among the States experiencing a persistent decline in mental health practitioners. She notes that although virtual or telepsychology has been explored, there is still a poor quality of mental health services attributed to a significant shortage of mental health professionals. Gunn (2023) reported that the mean shortage ratio between patient and professional is 1 to 40729 while the mean goal patient-professional ratio is 1 to 30 000, which leaves a difference between the actual and goal ratio of 10 729. Similarly, the Florida Association of School Psychologists.org (n.d.) published a positional statement concerning the critical shortage of school psychologists. It was reported that, on average, a school psychologist supports about 2000 students, which is a much higher number because the recommended ratio is one school psychologist for 500-700 students. The Florida Association of School Psychologists.org. (n.d.) also cited that about 13 districts in Florida did not directly employ school psychologists between 2018 and 2019. With the current shortage of mental health services, there is a need for immediate intervention to promote access and availability of professionals. This Bill aims to address the shortage and promote license recognition.
Target Population
The Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact Bill aims to amend the scope of practice for licensed psychologists, standards, and guidelines, and promote their recognition. The Bill provides that although the home state has the authority over a psychologist’s license, the distant or receiving State may define the scope and act on the psychologists’ authority to practice in those states as dictated in the compact. This will enable psychologists to practice across states members of the compact by providing telepsychology and temporary in-person and face-to-face mental health services. Psychologists play a pertinent role in ensuring public mental health wellness. According to American Psychological Association (2023), practicing psychologists provide mental health services for a wide range of people which include helping patients learn to cope with stressful situations, overcoming addictions, manage chronic conditions, and can perform assessments of intellectual skills, cognitive strengths, personality, and neuropsychological functioning. Additionally, it is worth noting that mental health issues significantly impact overall wellbeing and reduce the quality of life. This implies that psychologists are crucial professionals who assist individuals in overcoming mental health-related issues.
Goals and Objectives of the Bill
The Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact Bill aims to achieve several goals and objectives. First, the Bill aims at increasing public access to professional psychological services by promoting and enhancing telepsychological practice across State borders as well as allowing temporary face-to-face and in-person services in states where the professionals are not licensed. Also, it aims to promote and enhance member states’ ability to ensure the public is healthy and safe from psychological issues (Flsenate.gov, 2023). By promoting inter-state cooperation, the Bill will encourage collaboration in crucial aspects such as regulation, licensure, and information sharing between compact states. Overall, the objectives of the Bill converge on enhancing the psychology practice and increasing access to professional psychological services, which may health address the shortage of professionals.
Execution Plan
The Bill has already been introduced and awaits several committee reviews and voting. If approved, it will be signed into law by the Governor, allowing Florida to Join and become a member of the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact. Further, the StateState will choose a representative to join the commission, which is responsible for overseeing the compact and ensuring compliance with the provisions. As a member State of the Compact, Florida will review the licensing and practice Standards to align with the compact standards for licensure and psychology practice, which consists of ethical and professional conduct, training, and practice scope. Then, the psychologists from Florida will be allowed to practice telepsychology across member States. Psychologists who violate the compact standards will face disciplinary actions through a process that involves investigation and penalties. The next step would be information sharing. This includes records of discipline and licensure to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the public as well as the psychologists. Finally, the compact commission will conduct education and outreach to stakeholders to promote compliance as well as an understanding of the compact.
The Analysis of the Bill and Its Fiscal Impact
The Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact is primarily an interstate agreement aiming at facilitating telepsychology and temporary face-to-face and in-person psychological services across State members. It was first created by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards, which is a membership association consisting of state and provincial psychology regulatory authorities responsible for registration and licensure in the country, including Canada. Currently, about 36 states, as well as territories, have enacted the compact. As discussed earlier, upon enactment into law, the State joins the compact and provides a representative at the compact commission, which is the governing body.
The compact allows psychologists to practice in two ways. First, they can practice through telepsychology, where they must obtain the authority to practice inter jurisdictional telepsychology. Professionals in this category must pay an initial fee of $40 and an additional annual renewal fee of $20. Additionally, they must acquire an active e-passport by paying $400 and an annual renewal fee of $1000 (Flsenate.gov, 2023). The second option involves psychologists practicing temporarily, face-to-face, or in-person for up to 30 days. Psychologists must obtain temporary authorization to practice at $40 and an annual renewal fee of $20. Also, one must have an inter jurisdictional practice certificate acquired for $200 and an annual renewal fee of $50. Ultimately, psychologists who wish to join must meet the set criteria.
The enation of the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact will impact the StateState. First, by allowing psychologists to practice across state members, the Bill will allow professionals to reach underserved and marginalized areas that hardly access mental health services. Additionally, it will promote practice growth and facilitate job satisfaction among psychologists as it widens their scope of practice. For many years, several restrictions concerning the extent to which psychologists provide mental health services have derailed their efforts. This Bill will help by removing those barriers. Also, it is worth noting that the authority and powers of individual states are maintained, and states can withdraw from the compact if they see fit. This autonomy is essential as it promotes active participation and compliance with the compact standards and regulations. Also, the judicial branches, executive, and legislatures of the individual states have obligated the enforcement and take actions appropriate to effectuate the purpose and goals of the compact. This implies that each member state reserves a sense of belonging to the compact.
Fiscal Impact Statement
With the compact, the fiscal impact remains indeterminate at this time. There are no tax and fee issues. However, it may affect the private sector. This is because psychologists will be allowed to practice telepsychology as well as temporary, face-to-face, and in-person practices in states where they are not licensed to practice reducing the need for private, privately practicing professionals. Additionally, the Bill may lead to an increased workload for the Department of Health’s Division of Medical Quality Assurance related to the implementation of the compact, including system updates, investigations, and complaints estimated to cost about $59312. Also, additional costs may be experienced associated with the membership. No technical deficiencies are associated with the Bill, but it will significantly implicate several Florida Statutes, including 456.073, 456.076, 490.004, 490.005, 490.009, and 768.28 (Flsenate.gov, 2023). Overall, the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact Bill will positively impact psychology practice.
Mental health is a public health concern, and despite several interventions, the problem persists. My opinion is that this Bill will not have an immediate impact on increasing access to mental health services, but it provides a sustainable solution. First, allowing psychologists to work in many states allows them to be deployed in areas experiencing sere shortages of mental health professionals. This means the ratio of patients to professionals will be reduced, allowing more professionals to help many patients. Also, it will promote diversity and equitable care provision, inter-professional working, and collaboration.
References
American Psychological Association. (2023, March 21). What do practicing psychologists do? American Psychological Association. Retrieved April 12, 2023, from https://www.apa.org/topics/psychotherapy/about-psychologists
Florida Association of School Psychologists.org. (n.d.). FASP publications-FASP POLICY STATEMENTS AND POSITION PAPERS. Florida Association of School Psychologists. Retrieved April 12, 2023, from https://www.fasp.org/assets/docs/FASP_Position_Statement_Critical_Shortage_of_School_Psychologists_May_2019.pdf
Flsenate.gov. (2023). The Florida Senate. Senate Bill 56 (2023) – The Florida Senate. Retrieved April 12, 2023, from https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2023/56/?Tab=BillText
Gunn, J. A. (2023, January 28). How states compare by the shortage of mental health professionals. How States Compare By The Shortage of Mental Health Professionals. Retrieved April 12, 2023, from https://www.charliehealth.com/research/how-states-compare-by-the-shortage-of-mental-health-professionals-and-how-much-they-fall-short
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