The Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact, PSYPACT, is urgently needed legislation that enables licensed psychologists to practice telehealth across state lines. PSYPACT has been passed in 24 states, and is now being considered in California.  

It is critical that the California Psychological Association -- the guild association for all California psychologists -- support this legislation.  

But the California Psychological Association is considering recommending against PSYPACT. 

Blocking PSYPACT would be bad for mental health consumers in California and across the country. 

PSYPACT benefits individuals in rural areas, and many others who lack access to critical specialty care (e.g., those with autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, posttraumatic stress disorder, and opioid addiction) by multiplying the number of qualified specialists available to provide those services. 

Continuity of care is also at stake. As so many of our lives have been turned upside down by COViD-19 and wildfires (a particular challenge in California), we have seen the crucial importance of telehealth. When people have to move across state lines due to loss of childcare, employment or housing, many also lose their healthcare providers because of lack of licensing reciprocity among states. The same loss occurs regularly for children displaced by divorce, adults who move temporarily to care for an aging parent, and college students who need to leave school due to mental health crises, to name just a few examples.

With telehealth repeatedly demonstrating effectiveness for psychological treatment, and affording further advantages of accessibility, versatility, and affordability, there is no longer any excuse for such losses of essential care. 

The Association’s stated reason for not supporting PSYPACT is that participation is limited to psychologists who graduated from APA or CPA-accredited or ASPPB/National Register designated programs. (Psychologists who did not graduate from such programs can still practice telehealth in California, but would not be eligible for the new interstate privileges PSYPACT offers.) 

In other words, the California Psychological Association is considering putting the interests of some of their members above the needs of consumers.

The California Psychological Association needs to hear from us. Tell CPA you want them to strongly support the adoption of PSYPACT in California on your behalf.