Legislative Update March 2021

  • Tuesday, March 16, 2021 4:13 PM
    Message # 10204139
    Aaron Norton (Administrator)

    State Legislation

    As noted in last month's legislative update, HB 941 and Senate SB 818 have been filed.  This is a bill created by FMHCA, our parent chapter, that would:

    1. Remove the requirement that registered interns working in private practice settings have a licensed mental health professional on the premises when providing clinical services (yet still require them to have an "accessible" licensed mental health professional, thus adjusting to a telehealth environment), and
    2. Clarify that LMHCs, LMFTs, and LCSWs can be appointed by courts to conduct evaluations for the courts.  
    Click here for a more in-depth summary of the legislation and its intent.

    FMHCA has invited SMHCA members to join its delegation of counselors who will meet in small teams virtually with legislators for brief meetings on the last week of March to promote the bill.  Click here to join the delegation.

    Federal Legislation

    Nothing new has changed with HR 432, so I've pasted the same update as last month:

    The House version of the the Mental Health Access Improvement Act (HR 432), a bill that would enable LMHCs and LMFTs to bill Medicare, has been filed.  Once the Senate Bill has been filed, AMHCA and FMHCA will put out a call to action to its members on how to promote it.  In the meantime, click here to read the House Bill.

SunCoast Mental Health Counselors Association

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