Article archive / January 1, 2012
Originally published: . Volume 3, No. 5. Source pages: 1, 3.
The LSBEP (Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists) responded no to a request from LPA President Dr. Phil Griffin of the Louisiana Psych- ological Association (LPA) about discussing ways to bring psychology back from under medicine. Griffin received a formal reply from the board and the Times obtained a copy.
In the November 15 letter the board’s chair, Dr. Tony Young, said that the board had “carefully reviewed and discussed” Dr. Griffin’s request for feedback about Act 251.
Dr. Tony Young wrote, “This is a legislative matter and is not the responsibility of the LSBEP to change. The LSBEP and LSBME [Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners] entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in order to establish a relationship that allows both parties to cooperate on matters pertaining to the practice of psychology in relation to Act 251.”
“To date there have been no problems with this arrangement,” Dr. Young wrote. “We have had conversations with LSBME staff regarding the regulation of practitioners and consider ourselves, based on our interactions with LSBME, to be in a excellent working relationship with them. Further, we know of no threat to the public posed by the arrangement.”
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is an agreement between the boards that defines territory and encourages both boards to be cooperative.
Among many issues, wording in the MOU notes that “Act 251 grants the Medical Board the authority to regulate the practice of psychology by associates to the Medical Psychologists;” and “…by Act 251 both the Medical Board and the Psychology Board have regulatory authority over the practice of psychology; …”
The MOU notes that “The Medical Board SHALL: 1. Engage in cooperative rule making with the Psychology Board on any matters that pertain to the practice of psychology by their respective licensees; …”
Among other issues, the MOU also defines that the “Psychology Board SHALL 1. Engage in cooperative rule making with the Medical Board on any matters that pertain to the practice of psychology as may affect MPs who retain their psychology license with the Psychology Board and those unlicensed assistants of MPs; …”
Dr. Griffin was executing part of a motion passed by the members of LPA in April 2011 aimed at looking at a remedy for aspects of Act 251 that are of concern to members.
A similar motion was passed again in November.
The psychology board replied to the LPA President saying they were content with the method for dual regulation of the practice of psychology. Above (LtoR) members Drs. Zimmermann, Culross, Courtney, and Director Ms. Kelly Parker. (Drs. Young and Matthews present but not shown.)
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