Senate Bill 1250 (Regular Session 2009-2010)
An Act amending the act of July 9, 1987 (P.L.220, No.39), known as the Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors Act, further providing for definitions, for license required, for reciprocity, for restrictions on the use of title "licensed social worker," for restrictions on the use of title "licensed clinical social worker," for restrictions on the use of title "licensed marriage and family therapist" and for restrictions on the use of title "licensed professional counselor"; prohibiting unlicensed practice; further providing for penalties; and further prohibiting unlawful practice.
View: HB1250 Draft
View: HB1250 Draft with changes
Senate Bill 641 (Regular Session 2009-2010)
An Act amending the act of July 9, 1987 (P.L.220, No.39), known as the Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors Act, further providing for legislative intent, for definitions, for licensure, for the licensing agency and its functions, for licensure qualifications and procedure, for exemptions, for reciprocity and for license reinstatement; providing for restrictions on use of title "Licensed Human Services Professional"; and further proscribing unlawful practice.
Senate Bill 515 (Regular Session 2009-2010)
An Act amending the act of April 14, 1972 (P.L.221, No.63), known as the Pennsylvania Drug and Alcohol Abuse Control Act, further providing for commitment of minors. Includes LPCs with specific training in D&A treatment to conduct assessments. For more information click here.
Senate Bill 306 (Regular Session 2009-2010)
An Act providing for identification badge for licensed health care practitioner and for penalties; and providing for the powers and duties of the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs within the Department of State. Click here for more information.
Other Legislative News
NCC ALERT
Medicare Coverage of Counselors
December 3, 2009
The U.S. House of Representatives passed a health care reform bill (H.R. 3962) on November 7, 2009, that includes language adding professional counselors to the list of eligible Medicare providers. The Senate released its health care reform bill (substituted for H.R. 3950) on November 18; however, it does not include counselors as Medicare providers. NBCC continues to press to have Medicare recognition language included in the final health care reform package and urges all NCCs to contact their senators to help make this happen.
It is critical that senators understand the importance of including language providing Medicare reimbursement of counselors in the final health care reform legislation. This can happen on the Senate floor and during the conference negotiations. To make this happen, senators need to hear from their constituents about this issue. With your help, we have gotten this legislation through the Senate in 2003 and 2005, and the House in 2007 and 2009. The time has come to get it through both chambers at the same time.
The Senate has begun to debate the legislation. They need to hear from NCCs urging support for inclusion of Medicare reimbursement of counselors in the health care reform legislation.
Please call the Capitol Hill switchboard today (202-224-3121) and ask to be referred to your senator. Not sure what to say? We’ve included a sample message (below):
“My name is [name] and I am a National Certified Counselor living in [city and state]. I am calling to ask Senator [name] to urge inclusion of language providing Medicare coverage of professional counselors and MFTs in the health care reform package.”
If you have any questions, please contact NBCC at advocacy@nbcc.org.
Thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
Thomas W. Clawson, Ed.D., NCC, LPC
Late Saturday, November 7th, the House of Representatives passed an historic health insurance reform bill—H.R. 3962, the “Affordable Health Care for America Act”—including language establishing Medicare coverage of licensed professional counselors for the provision of medically-necessary outpatient mental health services. The Medicare coverage provision, which also applies to marriage and family therapists, is included in Section 1308 of the bill. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), H.R. 3962 would reduce the federal deficit by $109 billion over the next ten years, and would expand coverage to 96% of Americans. The legislation was passed by a vote of 220-215.
ACA applauds the House of Representatives for passing this legislation. ACA has long sought to establish Medicare coverage of counselors’ services, and has consistently supported expanding health insurance coverage. Counselors can identify their Representative at the House of Representatives website at http://www.house.gov. A listing of how members voted is available here.
The Senate is working toward a vote on health insurance legislation. Unfortunately, the legislation approved by the Senate Finance Committee does not include Medicare coverage of counselors.
Counselors are encouraged to contact their Senators to remind them that the Senate approved Medicare coverage of counselors in both 2003 and 2005, and ask them to work to include the counselor coverage language as part of health care legislation this year. Medicare beneficiaries need better access to outpatient mental health services, and deserve the same choice of provider currently enjoyed by those with private health insurance. Constituent contacts are likely to make the difference between success and failure on this issue!
For more information or for questions, contact:
Scott Barstow
Director of Public Policy and Legislation
American Counseling Association
5999 Stevenson Avenue
Alexandria, VA 22304
703.823.9800 x234
703.405.9711 (cell)
Cheers for California and cheers for Mental Health Counselors nationwide! With the vote of the California Senate and the signature of that state's Governor, California has now joined the other 49 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico in licensing masters-degreed mental health counselors. With this recognition comes the responsibility of offering to our clients the best possible help we can. By continuing education, by peer supervision, by active membership and participation in organizations, such as PAMHCA, mental health counselors really can be the best that they can be! Continuing the leadership of Mary Ann Baron, our current President, I, as the soon-to-be President, will work with you, our current and future members, to advocate for mental health counselors, whose mission is to support, encourage and advocate for our clients! -John Flynn
Important and Historic Victory---California Becomes 50th State to License Professional Counselors
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed into law, California Senate Bill 788, establishing licensure of professional clinical counselors in the state. The counselor licensure bill was introduced by Senators Mark Wyland and Senate President pro tem Darrell Steinberg.
Counselors are now licensed as master’s degreed mental health professionals in all U.S. jurisdictions. Nationwide, there are more than 110,000 licensed professional counselors working in the full range of treatment settings to assist clients with behavioral disorders and developmental issues. Licensed professional counselors are recognized as independent mental health service providers by the vast majority of private insurance companies, as well as under state and federal public health programs. As in most states, large areas in California are experiencing a shortage of mental health professionals.
ACA President Lynn Linde applauded California’s enactment of the licensure bill. "This is a momentous occasion; now all 50 states and the District of Columbia have licensure. What this means is that professional counseling is now recognized in all areas of the country and, more importantly, that protections for the consumers will now exist everywhere. Licensure for counselors significantly expands the availability of mental health services, which is crucial to helping meet the need for services.”
ACA congratulates the California Coalition for Counselor Licensure (CCCL) for its success in leading the licensure effort in the state. ACA has long sought to gain licensure of counselors in all U.S. jurisdictions, and has provided both financial support and technical assistance to CCCL in support of California’s effort.
Dean Porter, President of the CCCL, is pleased that its third bill has been approved by California’s legislature and signed into law by its Governor. “After working for almost eight years, CCCL, a coalition of nine California counseling organizations, is proud that California will become the 50th state to license professional counselors. This victory would not have been possible without the dedicated counselors throughout California, and the state and national organizations, particularly ACA and NBCC, that support professional counseling. Legislators from both sides of the aisle have the gratitude of counselors and their clients, who will now have increased access to professional services and the protection that regulation assures.” Information on implementation of the bill will be available on CCCL’s website at www.caccl.org and questions can be addressed to info@caccl.org.
“Today is a victory for so many counselors who have been advocating for licensure in California,” said Richard Yep, ACA Executive Director, “This legislation will serve to regulate the profession of counseling and that is good for the profession and for consumers of mental heath services. Governor Schwarzenegger’s signing of this bill caps an effort that began more than thirty years ago when no state licensure existed. We express our appreciation to all who were so critical in this important effort.”
California counselor licensure bill on Governor’s Schwarzenegger’s desk
The counseling profession’s long-standing goal of achieving recognition in all 50 states is a major step closer to completion. In the final hours of its legislative session, the California legislature approved a bill establishing licensure of professional clinical counselors in the state. California is the only state yet to establish formal recognition of professional counselors. The California Assembly approved SB 788 by a strong 70-5 vote on September 8th, followed two days later by a 25-1 vote in the California Senate.
The bill now goes to Governor Schwarzenegger for his consideration. The governor has until October 11th to either sign the legislation into law or issue a veto. ACA encourages its members in California to contact the Governor to urge him to sign the counselor licensure legislation into law. For more information, visit the website of the California Coalition for Counselor Licensure (CCCL) at http://www.caccl.org.
Approval of SB 788 is a hard-fought victory for CCCL and for the counseling profession. SB 788 would establish the title of "licensed professional clinical counselor," defining the practice of counseling to include "interventions and psychotherapeutic techniques to identify and remediate cognitive, mental, and emotional issues, including personal growth, adjustment to disability, crisis intervention, and psychosocial and environmental problems." CCCL had to incorporate several amendments to the licensure bill in order to remove opposition from other professional organizations. For example, the legislation states that "professional clinical counseling" does not include the "assessment or treatment of couples or families" unless the counselor has completed specific education and training in this area.
ACA has long supported the licensure effort, and applauds California’s counselors for this historic accomplishment.
 Scott Barstow
Director of Public Policy and Legislation
American Counseling Association
5999 Stevenson Avenue
Alexandria, VA 22304
703.823.9800 x234
sbarstow@counseling.org
www.counseling.org
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