Legislative Update — Ariel Cohen, MA, LMFT

CAMFT Facebook Page Legislative Updates
August and September 2020

8/16/20

On August 5th, the full Senate passed S 785, The Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act. This legislation contains provisions that: 1) direct the VA to develop an occupational series in the Federal Civil Service for MFTs; 2) establish a scholarship program that includes MFTs to become re-adjustment counselors with a work requirement after graduation in the VA; and 3) require the VA to study MFT hiring, the advisability of requiring only MFTs on VA standards boards, and having a VA MFT employee as the liaison to these boards.

8/27/20

These cities are now sending therapists instead of police officers for certain 9-1-1 calls. https://buff.ly/3iKf1TA #mft #lmft#mentalhealthmatters.

9/4/20

Independent Contractor MFTs See a Win! AB 2257 (Gonzalez) was signed by the Governor today; a bill that clarifies AB 5 (2019) for many MFTs wishing to work as independent contractors. AB 2257 includes a business-to-business exemption to the 3-part ABC test for employment status.

9/25/20

Some good news today as Newsom signed several bills aimed to increase mental health support including SB 855, for which CAMFT advocated strongly, which requires health plans and insurers to cover medically necessary treatment for all mental health and substance use disorders, and includes MFT associates and trainees as mental health providers.

9/28/20

A WIN FOR MFTs WITHIN THE VA! Congress just finalized Veterans legislation (S. 785) that will provide significant benefits to CAMFT members who wish to pursue a career within the Dept. of Veterans Affairs or other Federal Agency. This legislation creates a Federal civil service employment classification for Marriage and Family Therapists and MHCs; a scholarship program whereby students can study re-adjustment counseling and then work within the VA; a mandate that the national, regional, and local internal VA standards boards that regulate MFTs (as well as the national liaisons to these boards) be composed only of MFTs; and a study to determine how the VA can hire more MFTs and more effectively use their services. Now, on to the President for his signature!

Ariel Cohen, MA, LMFT, maintains a full-time, private practice in Woodland Hills, CA. He works with children, teens, and families, with an emphasis on supporting the special needs community. He can be contacted at 818.674.9834 or ArielCohenLMFT@gmail.com.