2020 Sunset Review of Mental Health Reviews
As you know, we were right in the middle of our review process and working with legislatures and DORA on our goals when we were forced to step back due to COVID-19. Regardless of those setbacks, the Sunset was very productive and collaborative as we worked together with the other mental health professions to bring about some important updates.
To see the draft bill (HB 20-1206) in its entirety and download other important resources, click on the link below to the MFT Examiners Board homepage on the DORA website: https://dpo.colorado.gov/MarriageFamilyTherapy and click on Public Notices. Here you will find the following:
· Copy of the Notice, HB20-1206, HB20-1326, and SB20-102.
· Copy of the draft rules for the mental health boards
· Watch/listen to the webinar stakeholder meeting regarding the draft rules which took place on July 30, 2020.
You can also click on New Legislation for even more resources from the 2020 Legislative Session.
What’s in the new legislation?
The new bill being put forward is HB20-1206. You can access the bill summary here. I’ve included all of the information in bullet format about the changes and updates made as a result of the sunset process this year. Some of these of particular interest to MFTs include:
Registered Psychotherapists
Title change from Registered Psychotherapist to Unlicensed Psychotherapist
Cessation of all new Unlicensed Psychotherapist applications (effective immediately)
If already hold Unlicensed Psychotherapist, will be allowed to keep that registration and continue to practice
Clarifies Clinical Supervision vs Administrative Supervision for mental health professionals (pg. 81 of the bill)
Modifies mandatory disclosure requirements to include requiring that mental health professionals disclose to clients that medical records may not be maintained after seven years – example disclosure statement is located on DORA website
Expands the Title Use Protection for Mental Health Professionals (pg. 10 of the bill), specific to MFT are listed below:
Clarifies the mental health regulatory board’s ability to suspend a mental health professional's license, certification, or registration for failure to comply with a board-ordered mental or physical health examination
Repeals the requirement that members of mental health boards be United States citizens
Clarifies that mental health professionals may administer opiate antagonists and are provided immunity when administering opiate antagonists in certain circumstances
Clarifies that exemptions from Article 245 include: students practicing in a school program and a professional practicing auricular acudetox in accordance with 12-245-233, C.R.S.
Regarding MFTC’s and the Four Year Window for Hours
Another issue that I would like to address is the concern with what happens to candidates if they cannot get their hours completed within the 4 year time frame. With the removal of the Unlicensed Psychotherapists registration this does not provide an additional option for professionals to continue to work on their hours. This has been brought to DORA’s attention not only by myself, but the other mental health professionals as well. During the stakeholder meeting the other week, many professionals had this same concern. DORA will be taking this to the boards and hopefully some adjustments can be made. I am hopeful they have heard our collective concerns on this matter and that the mental health boards will be able to adjust accordingly.
If you have questions, reach out!
If you have additional questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out. While I know this is the case for many people right now, due to COVID-19, response time might be delayed. Thank you for your patience.