Federal Advocacy Coordinators: Sabrina Esbitt, PhD & John Northman, PhD
The Legislative Committee (L/C) is the "political arm" of NYSPA. The primary purpose of the L/C is to seek enactment of legislation favorable to psychology and block legislative initiatives unfavorable to the profession. By working directly with governmental units responsible for implementing laws, the L/C also seeks to bring about changes in policy through regulations. The L/C works directly in collaboration with the NYSPA lobbyist.
2016 Legislative Agenda:- PLLC: Allowing psychologists to own practices with medical doctors
- Currently, psychologists can own their own practices, but if they want to create an ownership structure with a medical doctor (i.e. psychiatrist, general practitioner), they must only serve as an employee of the medical doctor.
- This bill would expand the structures of PLLC to allow a joint ownership; integrating healthcare and increasing access to care for patients.
PLLC Position Paper
- Prescriptive Authority (RxP): Permitting psychologists to prescribe psychotropic medications with additional training in pharmacology
- Psychologists can currently prescribe psychotropic medications in Louisiana, New Mexico, Illinois and in the United State Military.
- This bill would increase access to care considering the lack of psychiatrists, and the fact that many are not accepting new patients or insurance.
RxP Position Paper
- Duty to Protect: Legislation protecting psychologists from reporting potential harm on the public
- Ensuring psychologists are protected from any type of retaliation or receive immunity from breach of confidentiality if their professional opinion convinces them that authorities should be contacted on behalf of a patient.
Duty to Protect Position Paper
- Out of Network Benefits: Requiring insurance companies to offer out of network benefits
- With the new healthcare exchanges, out of network benefits have been disappearing
Out-of-Network Benefits Position Paper