Article archive / June 1, 2014
Originally published: . Volume 5, No. 10. Source pages: 4.
A bill to expand the scope of practice for Marriage and Family Therapists, SB121, passed the House on May 29 in a 92 to 0 vote, then returned with amendments to the Senate, passing there today in a vote of 30 to 0. The measure heads to the Governor for signature.
The original language added the term “psychotherapy” and “ “limited to prevention, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental, emotional, behavioral, relational, and addictive disorders” to the current law.
The bill was amended by the addition of educational requirements, and another added a requirement for consultation and collaboration with someone licensed under the medical board or a psychiatric nurse practitioner.
While the measure pushed through the legislative process with relative ease, changes were made. In the Senate Commerce committee, a provision for educational requirements was added. The new language is, “E. A licensed marriage and family therapist engaged in the diagnosis of individuals shall furnish satisfactory evidence of the following to the board: (1) The applicant has graduated from a program of graduate study which in addition to the standard training in the professional application of psychotherapeutic and family systems theories, will also require a minimum of six credit hours in diagnostic psychopathology, whereas students are taught to systematically collect and analyze data based on one or both of the two standard diagnostic systems employed, International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision or the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, for the above purposes. […]
Also added was similar language to that of the current Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs) practice law, requiring collaboration:
“(3) Nothing in this Chapter shall be construed to authorize any person licensed under the provisions of this Chapter to assess, diagnose, or provide treatment to any individual suffering from a serious mental illness, as defined by this Section, when medication may be indicated, except when a licensed marriage and family therapist, in accordance with best practices, consults and collaborates with a practitioner who holds a license or permit with the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners or an advanced practice registered nurse licensed by the Louisiana State Board of Nursing who is certified as a psychiatric nurse practitioner."
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists Mark Reynaud (L) and Penny Millhollon (C) at a past Advisory Committee meeting of the Advisory Committee. Executive Director, Mary Alice Olsan is on right. A measure expanding LMFT’s scope of practice passed both houses and is headed to the Governor’s office.
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