Quarterly Report Q1 2020 Introduction • Texas Association for Marriage and Welcome to the Texas Psychological Family Therapy Association’s (TPA) new quarterly report. • NAMI Texas The information contained within is • Texas Society of Psychiatric intended to provide a brief snapshot of the Physicians advocacy efforts conducted by TPA during • Disability Rights Texas each three-month period. • Texas Medical Association Outreach Elected Officials’ Staff • During the first quarter of 2020, TPA Gov. Greg Abbott • conducted the following outreach and Sen. John Whitmire participated in or attended the following • Sen. Judith Zaffirini meetings on behalf of TPA members. • Rep. Donna Howard • Rep. Giovanni Capriglione Regulatory Agencies • Rep. Vikki Goodwin • Texas State Board of Examiners of • Rep. Four Price Psychologists (TSBEP) • Rep. Stephanie Klick • Behavioral Health Executive Council (BHEC) Quarterly Meetings • Texas Health and Human Services • The Coalition for Healthy Minds (HHS) • Texas Society of Allied Health • Texas Department of State Health Professionals Services (DSHS) • Texas Family and Protective Services • Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) Council • Governor’s Regulatory Compliance • Behavioral Health Advisory Division Committee • TSBEP Stakeholders • BHEC • Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards Regulatory Advocacy • National Association of Social HHS Workers-Texas In January, TPA submitted a letter to HHS • Texas Counseling Association regarding proposed rules for Outpatient 1 Competency Restoration programs. TPA is COVID-19 Advocacy concerned the standards proposed do not COVID-19 has led to extraordinary advocacy align with the standards the legislature efforts by TPA staff, consultants, and established for jail-based programs under members, on behalf of all psychologists in the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. Texas. TDI This update captures work exclusively In February, TPA submitted a letter to TDI conducted in the first quarter. COVID-19 commenting on the implementation of HB advocacy work continues during the second 10 (85th Regular Session). The letter was a quarter and will be captured in the next response to a survey request by TDI. TPA’s report. survey responses were made available to all TPA members to assist in drafting their own Q1 advocacy efforts include: comments. • A letter to Governor Abbott lauding BHEC expanded access to telehealth from BHEC is working extensively on its Texas mental health professional procedural rules, including those related to associations applications and licensing, renewals, • A letter to TDI Commissioner Sullivan discipline, fees, and general governance. At calling for immediate access to its March meeting, TPA’s Executive Director telehealth provided testimony concerning temporary • A letter to Governor Abbott and suspension panels, competency panels, and DSHS calling for DSHS to re-establish fees. The Executive Director encouraged its database of mental health BHEC to take panels a step further to ensure professionals that a majority of the panelists come from • A letter to Governor Abbott calling the applicable board. This recommendation for clarification in TDI's emergency was adopted. Fees continue to be an issue, rulemaking regarding psychological with psychologists paying three times more and neuropsychological testing than other professionals, in some cases. Behind the scenes, TPA has: BHEC voted to examine this more closely in a subcommittee. In the meantime, TPA is • Had multiple exchanges with the working with BHEC’s Executive Director and Governor’s Office, addressing the Governor’s Regulatory Compliance telehealth challenges and the failure Division to address concerns. of most insurance companies to extend coverage • Repeatedly communicated to insurance companies like Blue Cross Blue Shield and Superior to provide reimbursement for telehealth 2 • Stayed connected with TSBEP, None of these efforts would be successful pushing out updates to rules without extensive support and information governing psychology provided by TPA’s President, the Business of • Worked with HHS to provide Practice (BOP) Committee, Director of Disability Determination Services and Professional Affairs (DPA), the Public Medicaid updates Education Committee and many of TPA’s • Coordinated with other mental members. health professional groups in Texas The Pro Bono Project: COVID-19 • Updated APA on TPA state advocacy In the midst of COVID-19 advocacy, TPA efforts and prepared federal launched The Pro Bono Project: COVID-19, advocacy support intended to provide up to two hours of free TPA also increased its online presence. TPA mental health services to under or uninsured created a dedicated COVID-19 webpage with Texans. With the help of the Disaster information for practitioners and helpful Resource Network: COVID-19 Committee, mental health resources. Practitioner TPA has recruited and organized its information includes a Toolkit for membership of licensed psychologists to Telehealth, small business resources, and support the mental health care needs of FAQs and current regulations & guidelines Texans impacted by COVID-19. This support that are updated regularly. Information for is provided by telehealth or telephone. the public includes coping with anxiety and talking with your kids. TPA members produced blog content appropriate for practitioners and the public. Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn are updated regularly, and newsletters designed for all psychologists in TPA’s database are produced at least twice a week. Every Friday a President Update is included. TPA also began offering new member benefits. TPA hosted a webinar on Behavioral Health and Ethical Challenges as We Respond to Pandemics, presented by Rebecca Hamlin, PhD, former Disaster Response Committee Co-Chair. One hour of free PD credit was available to the first 100 registrants. 3 .