Legislative Update October 2022
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E-Newletter

OCOTBER 2022 LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

The 2022 California Legislative Session has ended and will resume on January 2, 2023.

Below is an update on legislation of interest to CAMFT members.

CAMFT Sponsored Legislation: 
MFTs and AMFTs in FQHC and Rural Health Clinics: SB 966 (Limon) Co-Sponsor: This bill makes a Federal COVID-19 pandemic waiver permanent and allows Associate Marriage and Family Therapists and Associate Clinical Social Workers to work in FQHCs and RHCs. This will provide an additional opportunity for these associate clinicians to pursue their clinical hours required for state licensure and improve consumer access.

This bill was amended and the request of the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) that oversees the Medi-Cal program is to maintain the requirement for FQHCs and RHCs to file a new "scope of services" when adding a new provider, like MFTs. This change is not a reflection of the value of MFTs in working with the clinic population; but addresses DHCS’ concerns with the complicated rate setting process and the impact removing the scope change process would have on clinic rate setting. Earlier reported versions of SB 966 included language to remove the scope of services filing requirement. 

This bill was signed into law by Governor Newsom.

CAMFT Priority Legislation: 
Remote Supervision – AB 1758 allows for the remote supervision of associate MFTs in all settings. This urgency bill went into effect immediately upon Governor Newsom’s signature. CAMFT supported this bill. 

L&E Training--AB 1759, which was signed by the Governor and goes into effect as of July 1, 2023, will require licensees to complete three hours of training in law and ethics related to telehealth as a one-time requirement.

CAMFT encourages all members to visit CAMFT's Legislative Action Page to learn about all the bills CAMFT follows, including in-depth descriptions, legislative analyses, and up-to-date status reports. You can also subscribe here to CAMFT's Action E-Lerts for CAMFT emails on key pieces of legislation.


Future BBS Meetings:       

  Policy and Advocacy Committee:   October 15, 2022
  BBS Board Meeting   November 4 - 5, 2022

 

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