Understanding Psypact and Its Impact on Telehealth Accessibility Across Participating States

Accessing mental health services has become easier in recent years, especially with the rise of telehealth. However, state licensing laws often limit where psychologists can practice, creating barriers for people seeking care across state lines. The Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact, or Psypact, addresses this challenge by allowing licensed psychologists to provide telehealth services in multiple states without obtaining separate licenses for each one. This blog post explores what Psypact is, which states participate, and how it improves telehealth accessibility for clients and providers.

Telehealth session setup in a psychologist's office

What Is Psypact?

Psypact is an agreement among participating states that facilitates the practice of telepsychology and temporary in-person psychology across state lines. It was created to reduce regulatory barriers and increase access to psychological services, especially through telehealth. The compact allows psychologists licensed in one member state to provide services to clients in other member states without needing additional licenses.

This means a psychologist licensed in one Psypact state can legally offer telehealth sessions to patients in other Psypact states, expanding their reach and helping clients receive care more conveniently.

States Included in Psypact

As of now, over 20 states have joined Psypact, with more expected to join in the coming years. Participating states include:

• Alabama

• Arizona

• Arkansas

• Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

• Colorado

• Connecticut

• Delaware

• District of Columbia

• Florida

• Georgia

• Idaho

• Illinois

• Indiana

• Kansas

• Kentucky

• Maine

• Maryland

• Michigan

• Minnesota

• Mississippi

• Missouri

• Montana

• Nebraska

• Nevada

• New Hampshire

• New Jersey

• North Carolina

• North Dakota

• Ohio

• Oklahoma

• Pennsylvania

• Rhode Island

• South Carolina (pending changes)

• South Dakota

• Tennessee

• Texas

• Utah

• Vermont

• Virginia

• Washington

• West Virginia

• Wisconsin

• Wyoming

  
  

Each state must pass legislation to join Psypact, and the list continues to grow. This expanding network creates a larger pool of licensed psychologists available to provide telehealth services across state lines.

How Psypact Makes Telehealth More Accessible

Psypact addresses several challenges that previously limited telehealth psychology services:

1. Removes Licensing Barriers

Before Psypact, psychologists had to obtain separate licenses for each state where their clients lived. This process was costly, time-consuming, and complicated. Psypact allows a psychologist licensed in one member state to practice telepsychology in other member states without additional licenses, simplifying the process.

2. Expands Patient Access

Clients living in rural or underserved areas often face difficulties finding local mental health providers. Psypact enables psychologists to reach these patients through telehealth, increasing access to care regardless of geographic location.

3. Supports Continuity of Care

People who move or travel frequently can maintain ongoing therapy with the same psychologist without interruption. Psypact allows psychologists to continue providing services legally across state lines, improving treatment consistency.

4. Enhances Emergency Response

In times of crisis or natural disasters, psychologists can offer telehealth services to affected areas more quickly through Psypact, helping meet urgent mental health needs.

Practical Examples of Psypact in Action

• A psychologist licensed in Colorado can provide telehealth therapy to a client living in Montana without applying for a separate Montana license.

• A military family stationed in Colorado can continue therapy with their psychologist licensed in Georgia through telehealth, even after relocating.

• During a natural disaster in Oklahoma, psychologists from neighboring Psypact states can offer telehealth support to residents without licensing delays.

  
  

These examples show how Psypact breaks down barriers and improves mental health care delivery.

What Clients Should Expect

Clients receiving telehealth services under Psypact can expect:

• Access to licensed psychologists from other states without travel.

• Continuity of care even if they move or travel (within other Psypact states).

• Services that meet the legal and ethical standards of their home state.

  
  

Clients should confirm that their psychologist is authorized under Psypact to provide telehealth services in their state.

The Future of Telehealth and Psypact

As telehealth continues to grow, Psypact plays a crucial role in making psychological services more accessible and flexible. With more states joining, the network of providers and patients benefiting from Psypact will expand, helping to close gaps in mental health care access nationwide.

The compact also sets a precedent for other healthcare professions to consider similar agreements, potentially improving access to various types of care across state lines. If you are in a Psypact participating state and would like to start therapy, contact me today for more information!