Lawmakers seeking to ease Wyoming’s shortage of mental health professionals are considering measures to make it easier for practitioners to work across state lines.
The Common Work, Health and Social Services Commission this month considered two bills that would allow states to participate in the Interstate Psychology and Counseling Agreement. By allowing professionals licensed in one compact state to practice in all compact states, proponents believe the agreement will allow Wyoming patients access to more counselors and psychologists. It claims it will give Wyoming providers access to a larger market.
For example, Wyoming residents can virtually connect with counselors in Denver. Or, when University of Wyoming students go home for the summer, they can continue therapy with a Laramie-based psychologist. Expanding mental health care options is particularly attractive in rural states, where per capita suicide rates are often among the highest in the country.
Proponents of the bill say state licensing requirements are very time consuming and expensive and could ultimately deter psychologists and counselors from going through the process. We are concerned that joining the Compact could take away regulatory control from states and at the expense of mental health professional clients.
deepening crisis
Mental Health America, a nonprofit advocacy group, ranked Wyoming last in its 2022 Mental Health Report. This is due to a combination of risk factors: high prevalence of mental illness and inadequate access to care.
Julia Harris, senior policy analyst for the Health Policy Project at the Bipartisan Policy Center, said there is a shadow pandemic of behavioral health problems across the country. There were some of the highest overdose rates among all.The pressures of the pandemic have increased anxiety and depression.”
“The demand has been huge,” said Donald Benson, a Casper-based psychologist and president of the Wyoming Psychological Association. “Part of it is the pandemic and the stress people have been through.”
“My phone is ringing.
“We don’t want counselors in Wyoming to burn out from overwhelming need and leave the profession,” Simineo said. “Therefore, additional workforce from out of state will be very important in supporting the current mental health workforce.”
Simineo is also lobbying on behalf of the Wyoming Association of Counselors to support participation in the Counseling Compact.
fill the gap
Need is outstripping the supply of mental health professionals, but the two compacts offer a potential way to reduce that stress. become a popular place to live and work.
Utah has participated in both psychology and counseling compacts in recent years.
Anna Lieber, a licensed clinical mental health counselor and president of the Utah Mental Health Counselors Association, points to Logan, Utah’s proximity to the Idaho border as a prime example of the compact’s benefits. “Most therapists at Logan must be licensed in both Idaho and Utah,” Lieber said. “This is an economic burden.”
Amanda Arkema, Assistant Director for Substance Abuse, Utah Department of Health and Human Services, said: “It really helped to expand it in our rural areas.”
She said Mountain West states often compete for the same workforce and the pact will allow for more collaboration and expertise sharing.
Wyoming has participated in several compacts over the past few years, said Wyoming Hospital Association President Eric Boley. Physician and nursing compacts have proven particularly helpful during the pandemic. Nurses and doctors in participating compact states were able to work in Wyoming without going through the difficult licensing process.
“We didn’t see any downsides from this,” says Boley. “Everything is really positive.”
Not a “panacea”
Benson said the Wyoming Psychological Society has yet to take an official position on Compact.
“There are definitely people who worry that people in other compact states will pick and choose patients from Wyoming,” Benson said. “And that cuts into the lives of psychologists here. .”
Additionally, some worry that the state will lose control of its regulation of counselors and psychologists.
“As for the legislative branch,” said Mr. Boley of the Hospital Association. “
But he also said previously enacted physicians and nursing compacts had not resulted in substandard care. Told.
Andy Somerville, executive director of the Wyoming Mental Health Association and Substance Abuse Center, said the compact was just an important step. “But Wyoming still needs people on the ground. Telemedicine is great, but it’s not a panacea.”
She said the state needs to continue to focus on increasing the number of counselors living and working in Wyoming and improving salaries.
Somerville supports the psychology-counseling pact and the possibility of more telemedicine options.
“It’s important to realize that’s how the country generally works,” Somerville said. There are barriers to doing that.”
The Common Work, Health and Social Services Commission voted to proceed with the draft bill and formally finalize it at its next meeting.
