July 18, 2024
On July 16, 2024, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), announced the first-ever Licensure Portability Grant Program investment in a multi-state social worker licensure compact. State licensure compacts allow states to come together on a common approach to licensing healthcare providers, allowing providers to practice across state lines without having to apply for licenses in each state. Streamlining licensure while maintaining quality standards improves access to services, both by better facilitating hiring and by easing pathways to utilizing telehealth.
HRSA's new $2.5 million investment will support the work to launch social worker compacts, as well as HRSA's ongoing support for building and sustaining primary care, psychology, and podiatry compacts. HRSA identified behavioral health as a priority in its state licensure compact work. Since HRSA began investing in licensure compacts, the Interstate Medical Licensing Compact and the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT) have each grown to include 40 states, Washington, D.C., and one territory.
These awards will support the Association of Social Work Boards, Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards, Federation of State Medical Boards of the United States, and Federation of Podiatric Medical Boards in working with state licensing boards to develop and implement state policies that reduce barriers to telehealth and allow for practice across state lines.
HHS Deputy Secretary Andrea Palm was quoted in an HHS news release saying, "Social workers are essential to expanding access to behavioral health care services, a top priority of the Biden-Harris Administration . . . HRSA is leading the way in growing the behavioral health workforce both by training more providers and by breaking down barriers to allow the workforce to make mental health and substance use disorder services more accessible across the country."
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