ATTENTION OHIO PSYCHOLOGISTS...

The Ohio Senate is poised to eliminate the private practice license for school psychologists and to do so before the end of the year.

A report issued just this week by the Senate recommended elimination of this license because they see it as duplicative with the Ohio Department of Education license.

This language is slated to be added by the Senate to HB 509, which is also the bill that proposed to reduce the number of CE hours needed for license renewal for School Psychologists.

To support our School Psychologist colleagues, we need to oppose this language. Please email members of the Ohio Senate Workforce and Higher Education Committee and others listed below or call them to tell them how the private practice license is different from the Ohio Department of Education license and how important it is not to eliminate School Psychology positions in Ohio when we have a shortage of School Psychologists.

Remember a few years ago when our license was under attack. It is not much of a stretch to see this as starting us back down that slippery slope. Our action now is important.

Please reach out to Senators before November 30th if possible. Include your Senator if you can. A suggested script is below.

Ohio Senate Workforce and Higher Education Committee:
Chairman Dr. Terry Johnson | Johnson@ohiosenate.gov | 6144668082
Senator Jerry Cirino | Cirino@ohiosenate.gov | 6146447718
Senator Rob McColley | McColley@ohiosenate.gov | 6144665123
Senator Bill Reineke | Reineke@ohiosenate.gov | 6144668049
Senator Michael Rulli | Rulli@ohiosenate.gov | 6144668285
Senator Dale Martin | Martin@ohiosenate.gov | 6144664857
Senator Nickie Antonio | Antonio@ohiosenate.gov | 6144665123

House Bill 509 Bill sponsors:
Rep. Marilyn John | Rep2@ohiohouse.gov | 6144665802
Rep. Sarah Fowler Arthur | Rep99@ohiohouse.gov | 6144661405

Senate President:
Matt Huffman | HuffmanM@ohiosenate.gov

SUGGESTED SCRIPT:

I am contacting you re regarding HB509, particularly the provision that eliminates the, Private Practice license opportunity for school psychologists. The Ohio Psychological Association (OPA), which represents more than 1,600 licensed psychologists, opposes this and I do too. I am a licensed psychologist working in XXXXX, Ohio.

There is a serious shortage of school psychologists in Ohio, even as school systems are trying to deal with the increasing mental health need of children. Most school psychologists are employed by the schools and are licensed by the Ohio Department of Education and work hard to keep up.

Add to this the impact of mental health needs in the community, where the mental health workforce is inadequate. Several hundred school psychologists, who have sought the advanced training needed to be licensed by the Ohio Board of Psychology, help fill the gap by working in private practice in communities around Ohio. . Elimination of this important mental health resource will make the mental health provider shortage even deeper.

Eliminating the private practice license for school psychologists makes Ohio less attractive to school psychologists starting their careers or seeking opportunities to grow.

I urge you not to support the elimination of the private practice license for school psychologists.

Please communicate the following message to your State Representative.

The Ohio Department of Medicaid and the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services have already taken the important step of enacting an emergency rule to expand access to telehealth. We are asking a similar measure be passed so those with private insurance also have the benefit of getting their treatment through telehealth. This can be used for behavioral health care and physical healthcare. This allows the provider and the patient to adhere to social distancing requirements while getting their essential care and not further jeopardizing their health or risk to exposure.

We believe that increasing access to telehealth care will alleviate additional stress on our medical system at this time when the focus needs to be on those with serious health issues that require the unique care of our hospitals.

Telehealth creates the ability for us to bring value to our patients that are unable to receive care in other in-person settings. In most instances, telehealth can be as effective as in person care when delivered by skilled providers, and many clinics are already utilizing this innovative method to bring essential care to their patients. However, in a quickly changing and evolving system, we are struggling with parity and certainty surrounding this care. We ask that you support our efforts by championing out the protection of our ability to help those in need.

We know that as leaders of Ohio, the health and safety of your populace remains at the forefront of your mind. These unprecedented times call on us to reflect on the greater good for all. We ask that you consider this message as fundamental in your decisions. It is our hope that the General Assembly will move quickly to pass HB 580.

If you don’t know who your State Representative is go to https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/

On Wednesday, October 16th Representative Michael Skindell (D-13) and Representative Brett Hillyer (R-98) introduced the Ohio Fairness Act into the Ohio House as H.B. 369.  (This is a companion bill to SB11, which has been introduced in the Senate by Senator Nickie Antonio D-23) OPA is asking our members to contact your State Representative to support and “vote yes” on HB369.  (https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislators/house-directory).  

The Ohio Fairness Act expands the list of protected classes throughout the Revised Code to include sexual orientation and gender identity or expression.  In doing so, this legislation would protect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals from discrimination in several areas: 

• Employment, 
  
• Housing 
  
• Education 
  
• Credit, and 
  
• Public Accommodations

This would provide protection for LGBTQ individuals from employment discrimination, unwarranted terminations, and discrimination in housing and rentals, credit extension, admissions to schools, grades and the awarding of financial aid.  Can you imagine losing your job or being denied admission to a school because of who you are, or not being able to get credit or housing because of who you love?   While this may not affect you, the recognition of these basic human rights the majority of us already enjoy is essential for those affected and can affect us all.  It does impact many clients of OPA members.  In addition to the humanitarian issues, Ohio’s lack of protection for these citizens is an obstacle for economic development.  First, it leads to an underutilization of our workforce and second a loss in economic investment for companies looking to expand.  This is why this legislation is supported by: Ohio Businesses such as Honda and the Columbus, Dayton, Cincinnati and Ohio Chamber of Commerce.

OPA fully supports the Fairness Act.  We believe it is the right thing to do and that its passage is overdue.  Please contact your legislator and ask them to House Bill 369.  

Thank you,
OPA Advocacy Committee
Brad K. Potts, PhD, Chair