Madison, WI – Today, the Assembly passed State Representative Paul Tittl’s (R-Manitowoc) Assembly Bill 537 to provide greater opportunity for people in Wisconsin to receive needed mental health help.
PSYPACT provides greater opportunity for people in Wisconsin to receive needed mental health help. It does so by allowing psychologists to practice either in person or other than in-person across state lines in states which have enacted the compact. As a result, quick and efficient access to mental health resources will be greatly increased.
“The mental health needs in Wisconsin are great, and the COVID situation has increased the number of people in need of psychological services,” said Rep. Tittl. “This bill makes it easier for them to do receive help.”
The benefits of joining the PSYPACT extend beyond the COVID situation. It increases access to rural Wisconsinites served by psychologists out of state, provides treatment to patients needing care by a specialist who is not available in Wisconsin, enables sports psychologists to travel with and provide services to a team, and allows a Wisconsinite temporarily moving out of state to continue to receiving care from a psychologist in Wisconsin.
Currently 27 states have enacted PSYPACT, including Illinois and Minnesota. As more states enact PSYPACT it will become even more effective in alleviating mental health care shortages and improving access to mental health services.
“It’s time for us to modernize our laws and join our neighbors in prioritizing mental health resource accessibility for Wisconsinites,” continued Rep. Tittl.
Key supporters of the bill include Advocate Health, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, Gundersen Health System, Marshfield Clinic Health System, Mayo Clinic Health System, SSM Health, Wisconsin Psychological Association. There were no opponents.
The Bill received bipartisan support and passed during the Assembly floor session. It now awaits scheduling in the Senate.
