APA applauds new state laws allowing psychologists with advanced training to prescribe certain medications in Hawaii and Vermont
Impact on your practice
These state-level scope expansions directly affect how psychologists in Hawaii and Vermont can practice and bill for services. This is a significant competitive and practice model change that may influence licensure portability discussions and could prompt similar legislation in other states, reshaping the mental health workforce landscape.
Key facts
Hawaii and Vermont enacted laws allowing psychologists with advanced training to prescribe certain medications
Addresses provider shortages and treatment delays in underserved communities
Expands scope of practice for licensed psychologists in these states
Requires specialized training and credentialing beyond standard doctoral psychology degree
May influence other states to consider similar prescriptive authority legislation
States affected
Policy changes drive denial patterns
Therapy Companion tracks both: the policy shifts on this page and the denial patterns hitting your claims.
Related policy changes
APA concerned about far-reaching consequences from Supreme Court decision regarding therapy as ‘free speech’
This Supreme Court decision poses a significant threat to the regulatory framework that protects licensed therapists and ensures practice standards. If therapy is classified as free speech, it could undermine licensing board authority, create liability exposure for practitioners, and enable unlicensed individuals to practice without restriction.
[CA] AB2233: Behavioral health treatment plans.
AB2233 will standardize treatment plan documentation statewide, potentially reducing the patchwork of insurer-specific requirements that currently burden California therapists. This could streamline prior authorization and compliance workflows.
[PA] HB2653: Providing for behavioral health care provider access; and imposing penalties.
Pennsylvania's HB2653 aims to improve behavioral health provider access with enforcement penalties. If passed, this could expand therapist network inclusion requirements, reduce insurance barriers to patient access, and create new compliance obligations for insurers.
[CO] SB113: Require Recovery Residences to Obtain Behavioral Health Administration License
This law establishes new licensing requirements for recovery residences, which may affect therapists who work in or consult with residential treatment programs. It could create additional compliance burdens or new employment opportunities depending on implementation details.