SC SB610 Interstate Telehealth Counselors Compact
Heartland Impact Supports a YES vote on this bill
WHAT THIS BILL DOES
SB 610 connects mental health patients and providers across state lines via telehealth consultations. Patients and providers in all compact states have access to one another, with the aim of improving access to mental health services. Without such interstate agreements, providers must be licensed in, and physically be in the same state as the patient.
OPPOSITION TO BILL
Opponents focus on concerns regarding the loss of business for licensed therapists to other states and worries that some of those therapists may be trying to duck a sanction or practice limitation by seeing patients virtually in another state.
The legitimate patient safety concerns are addressed in the bill sections governing a multi-state counseling compact commission. The compact addresses patient safety concerns in the new section of law “Professional Counseling Compact Act.”
- All therapists must follow the laws of the patient’s state and the state of the therapist.
- The Counseling Compact Commission will manage the certification and notification of member states regarding licensure status and limitations of participating therapists.
WHY THIS BILL SHOULD PASS
The Counselor’s Compact has been extremely successful in signatory states, gaining the required 10 states in less than two calendar years, and now includes more than half the states in the country. Member states have been satisfied with the patient safety provisions and therapists have benefitted from a larger pool of patients.
- Improved access to mental health providers, particularly in underserved and rural communities will reduce stress on hospitals, clinics and law enforcement.
- SC military spouses who are licensed therapists can work in multiple states.
- Workforce recruitment benefits for military, private and public employers.
HOW MUCH THIS BILL COSTS
The costs of this bill are paid for by fees paid to the interstate compact commission.
Heartland Impact can send an expert to your state to testify or brief your caucus; host an event in your state; or send you further information on a topic. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if we can be of assistance! If you have any questions or comments, contact Cameron Sholty, at csholty@heartlandimpact.org or 312/377- 4000.
OTHER RESOURCES:
33.1% of South Carolinians report symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorder in 2023 https://www.kff.org/statedata/mental-health-and-substance-use-state-fact-sheets/south-carolina/
Suicide is the third leading cause of death for South Carolinians aged 10-34
https://cams-care.com/state-statistics/south-carolina/
South Carolina has the third highest number of military enlistees of any state
