Originally published: . Volume 14, No. 7. Source pages: 9.
Selected Items from Jan '23 Minutes of the Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists (LSBEP)
Thursday, January 19, 2023 and Friday, January 20, 2023 FINAL APPROVED: April 21, 2023 Finally published May 8, 2023
d. Job description for Executive Counsel (In House/Prosecuting) […][See June issue or Minutes for items 1 to 4.]
5. initiate or facilitate the initiation of subpoenas
6. represent the Board in proceedings before other administrative tribunals, boards, or commissions and state district and appellate courts
7. assist the Executive Director with review of and response to public records requests
8. develop and conduct educational compliance training for board members, staff and licensees related to statutory and regulatory requirements
9. conduct a continuous study of applicable law and judicial decisions that may impact the practice of psychology and/or the responsibilities and duties of the Board to regulate the practice of psychology
10. review and advise the Board on policies and procedures that may impact the practice of psychology and/or the responsibilities and duties of the Board to regulate the practice of psychology in consultation with the Executive Director
11. provide legal advice to the Board and any Board Committee pertaining to any matter that may impact the practice of psychology and/or the responsibilities and duties of the Board to regulate the practice of psychology in consultation with the Executive Director
12. draft and/or review new legislation that may impact the practice of psychology and/or the responsibilities and duties of the Board to regulate the practice of psychology in consultation with the Executive Director
13. assist the Executive Director with preparing and/or overseeing compliance with statutorily mandated reports as assigned by the Executive Director
14. perform any other related duties that may be assigned by the Executive Director or Board.
[…]
COMMITTEES, COMMITTEE CHAIRS AND LIAISON/AD HOC/OTHER REPORTS
a. LSSP Committee Report – Dr. Hebert and Ms. Kelley Pursell appeared before the Board to provide an annual summary report to the LSBEP, advising that the Committee has met in New Orleans, LA for the past two quarterly meetings, they continue to thoroughly review application files for licensure and provide recommendations to the Board related to licensure and issues impacting the regulation of LSSP’s such as Medicare reimbursement issues in the school system. Dr. Hebert also expressed his gratitude on behalf of himself and the LSSP Committee, for the Board approving travel reimbursement for Committee Members to attend meetings.
d. Finance – (i) Update on Accounts Receivables including update on litigation/complaints accounts receivable – Drs. Gormanous, Moore & Ms. Monic – Ms. Monic discussed options previously presented to the Board regarding contracting with the Attorney General for debt collection. The Board reviewed the contract for debt collection with the Attorney General’s office. Dr. Sam moved that the Board negotiate an Interagency Agreement with Office of the Attorney General for the Collection of Outstanding Receivables, including the terms of payment to the Attorney General in the amount of 25% of the actual debt collected, and to authorize Ms. Monic to effectuate the agreement. Following opportunity for discussion, the motion was put to a vote. The motion passed by unanimous roll-call vote as follows: In favor: (6) Gormanous, Moore, McNeely, Harness, Sam and Holcomb; Against: (0); Abstained: (0); Absent: (0).
f. Continuing Professional Development – Dr. Sam stated that she would like to be empowered to start searching for the next presenter for a Board sponsored CPD. The Board affirmed this delegation without objection. Dr. Gormanous asked Dr. Sam to also include follow up with APA’s Dr. Akbar & Dr Awad.
b. LONG RANGE PLANNING DISCUSSION:
[…]iii. Program Competency Issues- The Board briefly discussed the changes to APA’s accrediting standards related to how programs assess competency. Dr. Moore reported that these changes were already addressed in the current proposed rules.
iv. Examination Issues: Assessing Competence/EPPP/EPPP2 or other option vs. Oral Examination – The Board discussed this topic, and considered the information learned in the presentation today by Dr. Marianne Atwell-Burnetti, Dr. Matthew Turner and Dr. Hao Song. Dr. Holcomb stated he still had questions pertaining to implementation, test validity, Dr. Harness had questions about admission and score transfer. Dr. Harness also stated that she believed that part 2 of the EPPP would be an option for replacing the Oral Examination. Dr. Gormanous requested that outstanding or unanswered questions be sent to Ms. Monic to compile, and the Board could follow up with ASPPB representatives to get them answered. Dr. Holcomb floated the idea of a phase-out approach. Dr. Sam was concerned about a motion including a phase-out approach due to concerns about impacts on the licensure of currently licensed individuals who have not taken the EPPP Part 2 being able to become licensed in Louisiana at a later date. Following opportunity for discussion, Mr. McNeely moved that the Board adopt the EPPP (Part 2) in place of the Oral Examination by 2026; further that such steps should include but not be limited to legislative changes and appropriate engagement with persons and entities; further that staff be empowered to begin reviewing the regulations and statutes that will be impacted for proper implementation. Following opportunity for discussion, the motion was put to a vote. The motion passed by majority roll-call vote as follows: In favor: (4) Gormanous, Moore, McNeely, and Harness; Against: (2) Sam and Holcomb; Abstained: (0); Absent: (0)
Action: Monic & Gormanous organize workgroup to begin compiling data for Board consideration.
v. Rule Changes and the “Great Cliff” in psychology education: Continued use of Specialties vs HSP/General Applied – The Board discussed the continued use of specialties, how specialties are currently assess in an Oral Exam, and the decision today by the Board to adopt the EPPP (Pt.2) to replace the Oral Examination by 2026. Dr. Moore moved to charge the SPP committee with reviewing statutory and regulatory changes that would need to be made to drop specialty titles, including Clinical Neuropsychology, and bring recommendations back to the board. Following opportunity for discussion, the motion was put to a vote. The motion passed by unanimous roll- call vote as follows: In favor: (6) Gormanous, Moore, McNeely, Harness, Sam and Holcomb; Against: (0); Abstained: (0); Absent: (0)
Action: SPP Committee Members (Moore and Sam) research the continued use of Specialties, models for licensure and credentialing, impacts of dropping board recognized specialties. Docket SPP Committee Meeting to discuss and finalize a recommendation to bring to the Board.
Dr. Michelle Moore at a past meeting of the state board. She is next in line to serve as Chair.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.