In
2008, the coalition was asked by several legislators to engage
in a collaborative effort with other groups to shape a new
bill, HB 2506. The Legislature now requires that any proposed
changes in a profession's scope of practice be the
outcome of a dialogue among similar professions to address
conflicts before they come up for hearings and a
vote. As a result, we have been in discussions with organizations
that historically have been either proponents or opponents
of our legislative mission. HB 2506 is the result of this
helpful dialogue.
As a practice act, the goals of HB 2506 are to:
- Define
the practices of professional counseling and marriage and
family therapy.
- Require
health insurance reimbursement for services provided by
LPCs and LMFTs.
- Improve
consumer protection.
- Increase
access to mental health care.
- Improve
affordability of mental health care.
LEARN
MORE ABOUT HB 2506
The
coalition has created several documents to illustrate the
impacts of HB 2506 on our respective professions and on consumers.
These are in-depth explanations of several crucial components
of the bill that we believe should be portrayed accurately
if we are to achieve passage:
HB
2506: Quick Reference Guide - A good overview of eight
major elements of HB 2506. Includes references to relevant
sections in the bill.
HB
2506: New Practice Definitions - Current statutory language
concerning diagnosis and treatment is not consistent, nor
is it particularly clear. HB 2506 clarifies this language
by defining diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders as
essential parts of the scopes of practice of professional
counseling and marriage and family therapy.
HB
2506: Required Diagnostic Training and Clinical Experience
- This part of the bill ensures that incoming and current
licensees (LPC, LMFT) who diagnose and treat mental disorders
have the necessary training and experience to do so.
HB
2506: Who Must be Licensed? - Describes the effects of
the bill on five categories of providers. For example, if
you provide counseling or therapy services but do not have
training in a CACREP- or COAMFTE-accredited program or its
equivalent, you do not need to be licensed.
HB
2506: Improved Consumer Protection - Explores several
features of the new bill that afford greater protection for
consumer of mental health care services in Oregon.
If
you have questions about HB 2506, please contact
Coalition core group members who have been developing this
bill: Bryan Nilsen LMFT, Larry Conner, LPC, Jeff Harman LPC,
Jeff Borchers PhD, Doug Chapman LPC, Doug Querin JD, and Jim
Brown LPC.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The
Coalition would like to acknowledge the substantial contributions
of Mary Lou Brophy and Art Tolentino.
Their efforts on behalf of the Coalition in previous years
have significantly shaped our current legislative mission.
