PSYPACT gets an A (for access, among other things) 

In view of Mental Health Awareness Month, this article highlights an organization that aims to improve access to mental healthcare.

It was a case of being in the right place at the right time.  

Years in the making, the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT®) became operational in April 2019 when the seventh state enacted adopting legislation. Its goal was (and continues to be) straightforward: to facilitate telepsychology and temporary in-person psychology across state lines. By the end of 2019, a dozen states had enacted legislation to join the compact. The earliest effective date was July 1, 2020, as the COVID-19 outbreak was increasing the need for mental health providers, especially via telehealth. 

When Montana recently passed its law on April 16, it became the 41st state (plus Washington, DC and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands) to become a member. The law’s cost to the state was negligible, less than $15,000 for the upcoming fiscal year. Legislation is currently pending in Massachusetts, New York and Oregon. The compact has more than 12,000 authorized practitioners. When a state joins PSYPACT, it joins the PSYPACT Commission, the group’s governing body.

“PSYPACT is an interstate compact very similar to the driver’s license compact,” said Janet Orwig, the compact’s executive director. “You can get in your car and cross over a state line without having to stop at the line and get a driver’s license, PSYPACT works that way. …So if you’re in a state that’s very rural and you speak Farsi and you need someone that speaks that, you’re not limited to your state any longer.”

Psychologists licensed in a member state must apply to participate. If they meet exacting eligibility criteria and agree to comply with strict standards, they avoid the need to obtain licenses in other member states. PSYPACT states can exchange information for verification and disciplinary purposes. An easy-to-use directory is available. Health plan participants may need to confirm with their insurer or third-party administrator if PSYPACT providers are in the plan’s network and what the cost sharing will be.

PSYPACT can help health plan participants in several ways: 

• Continuity of care in the event of travel or relocation 
• Access to specialized services in rural, remote or otherwise underserved areas 
• Ability to meet with psychologists fluent in their primary language 
• High degree of consumer protection across state lines 
• Greater scheduling flexibility  

“We feel like that’s been a big benefit. One of things we were hoping to see was getting some access into those harder-to-reach areas,” said Orwig.

PSYPACT could also help employer-sponsored group health plans satisfy mental health parity requirements. The 2024 MHPAEA Report to Congress emphasized the importance of network parity between mental health/substance use disorder benefits and medical/surgical benefits, suggesting expanded telehealth services as an effective way to correct any coverage gaps. For additional background, see this US Health News article.

PSYPACT’s ultimate employer advantage goes beyond mental health parity. “It allows your employees to find the best service that meets their needs.”

Orwig suggests that employers interested in maximizing PSYPACT use should talk to their insurers and third-party administrators and encourage them to add more PSYPACT providers to their networks. After all, the need for mental healthcare access is just as important in 2025 as it was five years ago.