Oct. 4, 2024

The MPA’s Advocacy Committee and Board of Directors have been working closely with our lobbyist to advocate for the passage of the PsyPact bill in Massachusetts. We understand the significance of this bill for all of us, and we would like to update you on its current status. This update will outline where things stand, the likelihood of the bill's passage, and how you can help support its advancement.

We’d like to acknowledge the Advocacy Committee, particularly Committee Chair, Diana Westerberg and Board Director/Committee Member, Beth Jerskey, for their efforts in drafting this update.

Background

We are in the second year of a two-year legislative cycle that concluded its formal sessions on July 31, 2024. The current informal sessions run with very minimal attendance and no roll call is taken; legislation that gets passed during this time is usually non-controversial and not considered to be “major” legislation, as all business during this time must be passed unanimously. Although the PsyPact bill is not opposed/controversial, it would be considered major legislation. Legislation typically takes many years to pass once introduced, even with intensive lobbying (e.g., the anti-claw back bill took at least five years with very strong support and advocacy from MPA). For information regarding the legislative process and how the legislative cycle works, see: http://www.lynchfierro.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Fierro_Legislative_Process.pdf.

What this means for PsyPact

S.1980/H.2986 An Act establishing the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PsyPact) was originally filed on January 17, 2023 in the Senate (sponsored by Senator Cindy Creem) and on February 16, 2023 in the House (sponsored by Rep. Ruth Balser). Since its introduction, MPA held many meetings with key legislators and participated in hearings.

The first hearing was convened on October 3, 2023 by the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight with MPA providing oral testimony and was reviewed favorably. The bill was then referred to the Senate Committee on Ways and Means where it is still under review.

MPA has requested to meet with the Department of Public Health (DPH) as the DPH’s position could be influential to the Ways and Means Committee. DPH has committed to respond to our lobbyist (Ben Fierro) to schedule a meeting to discuss PsyPact, but DPH is currently focused on addressing the Steward Health Care crisis. Ben has advised that it is important now to have DPH’s support on the bill.

If the Senate Committee on Ways and Means releases the bill, it will then go to the full Senate to be approved, after which it will go to the House. If approved in the House, it will finally go to the Governor. While this seems unlikely at this point in the legislative cycle, if the Senate passed the bill, it would “give us a leg up” in the next legislative session. 

The House recommended to the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing to review the cost implications, however, on September 5, 2024 this committee recommended that the bill be studied further (i.e., “a study order”), which generally means the bill will remain in limbo for the rest of the legislative session - in other words, it is a convenient way for a committee to quietly kill a bill. It is unclear as to the rationale behind this decision. Given this occurrence, the passing of PsyPact during this legislative session seems remote. 

What we can do if PsyPact does not pass this legislative session

We need to go into the next cycle with a robust lobbying plan, as bills must be filed by the third Wednesday in January. MPA is working closely with its lobbyist, intensifying efforts to develop a plan that will improve our chances of successfully passing PsyPact legislation.

In addition, there is an election this November and new committee members and chairs will be appointed early next year. With Representative Balser retiring, our lobbyist is planning to make contact with Rep. Balser's successor, Greg Schwartz, MD, to discuss taking on her priorities. Constituent psychologists can also try to take advantage of campaign events in the community to advocate for PsyPact, and if it passes in the Senate, we can point to that success.

What MPA members can do

We need volunteers who are interested in speaking on behalf of PsyPact as follows:

Right now:

Per Rep. Ruth Balser’s office, members can continue to advocate for PsyPact by writing to Senator Michael Rodrigues, Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, and to Senator Karen Spilka, the Senate President, to express support for S1980 and urge its passage. Here are links to the contact information for each:



• https://malegislature.gov/Committees/Detail/S30
• https://malegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/KES0

In January/next legislative session:

• Speak at meetings with committee chairs early in the new session;
• Testify, preferably in-person, at a hearing. Members need to provide examples of how this legislation will impact access and continuity of care. It makes a big impact on legislators to hear from stakeholders in-person and have examples that aid their understanding of what the bill can do. Ben will press the legislators to have the hearings earlier in the next legislative session - typically they are held in September of the first year of the legislative session; 
• After the hearing is a good time to do a letter campaign to legislators to advocate for the bill to get it favorably moved out of committee;
• Talk to the Health Policy Commission;
• Publish an Op Ed in the Commonwealth Beacon, a well-respected online magazine; and 
• Please consider joining the advocacy committee to stay involved in this effort and receive updates directly from our lobbyist - email Diana Westerberg for more information.

MPA will continue to work with our lobbyist to prioritize the passage of PsyPact and we need your involvement/support, as specified above, with these ongoing efforts!