Overview

Legislative Brief: H.2528 / S.1487

An Act Establishing the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT)

PSYPACT enables licensed psychologists in member states to provide telehealth and temporary in-person services across state lines, under a shared set of high professional standards.

Why is PSYPACT good for Massachusetts?

• Improves access to care for Massachusetts residents.  Residents will gain access to licensed psychologists with PSYPACT credentials all across the country, helping them connect with providers who have unique linguistic, cultural, and clinical competencies. 

• Evidence strongly shows that effective therapy is based on the therapeutic relationship: PSYPACT supports continuity of care when clients relocate or travel out of state for any reason, as is extremely common today (e.g., students, professionals, military, family needs).

• 43+ other states have already joined, including all other New England states.

• PSYPACT holds psychologists to the same rigorous standards set by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) and the American Psychological Association.

Fiscal and administrative implications: 

• Essentially budget neutral -- just $10/year per psychologist who opts in, capped at a maximum of $6,000 per year paid by the Commonwealth.

• Administrative costs are primarily (>80%)  covered by fees paid by participating psychologists.  The PSYPACT Commission is in the process of reducing state fees and shifting the burden more fully to the psychologists.

• Each state sends a Commissioner (typically a Board administrator or psychologist member), whose responsibilities are well within their existing scope (3 meeting days per year).

• All indirect costs (e.g., travel for in-person meetings) are covered by PSYPACT.

• The required public-information and reporting infrastructure already exists.

• Board workload is reduced by decreased need to provide archival documentation for MA licensees seeking licensure in other states to compensate for lack of PSYPACT in MA.

• Potential lost fees from out-of-state licensees are balanced by decreased review workload.

Disciplinary and jurisdictional information:

• The Massachusetts Board of Registration retains full authority over practice in MA.

• Psychologists who work with clients located in MA must follow all MA laws.
  All MA psychologists must follow the laws of the state in which their client is located.  (Legally the same as when a psychologist holds full licenses in multiple states.)

• PSYPACT staff verify each participating psychologist’s licensure status, disciplinary history, and eligibility to practice across state lines.

• PSYPACT streamlines the process for disciplinary communication among member states. PSYPACT credentials are automatically revoked when any state reports disciplinary action.

• To date, there have been no disciplinary actions across state lines associated with practice under PSYPACT, and data indicates that PSYPACT credential holders are far less likely than psychologists in general to be disciplined by their own state boards.

Conclusion: PSYPACT is a low-cost, low-burden, and public-safety–enhancing professional compact, aligning Massachusetts with national best practices and providing important mental health benefits for residents of the Commonwealth.

Prepared December 2025, by Aimee Yermish, Psy.D (aimee@davincilearning.org), on behalf of the Massachusetts Psychological Association Advocacy Committee.  Supplemental one-page briefs (merits, fiscal/administrative, juridictional/disciplinary) and other information available on request.