Think about telling your consumer that, as their trusted therapist, you aren’t in a position to schedule an appointment with them in the event that they 1) relocate to a different state, even when simply throughout the border; 2) go on an prolonged trip, or dwell seasonally within the state you’re practising in; 3) attend school or college in Maine however go residence to a different state on breaks; or even when they 4) have a medical should be handled in one other state.
Continuation of care is so important in a therapeutic relationship. Present legal guidelines in lots of states prohibit making appointments with people who find themselves not within the state the place the therapist is bodily situated or licensed. That is the very expensive purpose I have to maintain a social work license in a number of states to supply telehealth appointments to a lot of my purchasers.
A pattern dialog with a consumer: “So sorry, I can’t provide help to proper now as I’m not licensed within the state you might be in. When will you be again in Maine? Weeks, perhaps a month or two? Do you might have entry to a different therapist till you come to Maine? Oh, you’re proper. All states are struggling proper now with a scarcity of psychological well being professionals. Possibly when the Social Work Interstate Compact will get handed in Maine, and some further states, we could have entry to specialists out of state which are a part of the compact.”
Maine State Consultant Lydia Crafts, herself a social employee, is the sponsor of L.D. 2140, “An Act to Enact the Interstate Social Work Licensure Compact,” co-sponsored by Home Speaker Rachel Talbot Ross and a number of other different representatives from numerous backgrounds. I hope Maine will move this laws and turn into one of many first states, like Missouri, to hitch the fee overseeing the compact. An instance of a profitable compact may be seen by your driver’s license, which lets you drive throughout state borders however nonetheless be topic to legal guidelines and rules as agreed on in all states. Occupational interstate licensing compacts exist right here in Maine for psychologists, nurses, physicians, speech pathologists, bodily therapists {and professional} counselors. Now’s the time for Maine to be a part of the Social Work Interstate Compact.
The Council of State Governments obtained funding by means of the US Division of Protection after which partnered with the Affiliation of Social Work Boards, the Medical Social Work Affiliation, the Nationwide Affiliation of Social Employees and licensed social employees from across the nation to develop the present draft language of an interstate compact for licensure portability. All events need to enhance entry to providers, mobility, and licensure portability. The invoice in Maine matches what’s being voted on in different states.
Passing this laws issues this yr; not solely will Maine have a seat on the fee overseeing the compact, it additionally will give our licensees the possibility to serve extra folks. New licensees from different states within the compact can serve the folks of Maine from their residence state, offering entry to specialists out of state. L.D. 2140 will assist to advertise relocating simply to Maine and preserving social employees’ licenses energetic. L.D. 2140 is sweet for navy social employees, their households and the purchasers they serve. Maine should be part of the Social Work Compact and assist purchasers from throughout New England and the nation in sustaining entry to the high-quality behavioral well being providers that social employees present.
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