Updates

2026 Legislative Goals

CTAMFT 2026 Legislative Session Initiatives

1. MFT License Portability Implementation

As many of you know, with the support of AAMFT, CTAMFT worked hard to have Connecticut pass a critical LMFT license portability bill last year, making it easier for out-of-state LMFTs to become licensed in Connecticut. This was a monumental step forward for the profession, particularly in the evolving landscape of interstate compacts.

This legislation not only supports the growth of the MFT profession but also helps expand the mental health workforce, ultimately increasing access to care for individuals and families across the state.

During the current legislative session, CTAMFT is actively collaborating with the Department of Public Health to support smooth and effective implementation of this new law. In addition, we are working closely with AAMFT and our neighboring states to further strengthen licensure portability, both for Connecticut LMFTs seeking to practice in other states and for out-of-state LMFTs looking to practice here.

Advocacy does not end with testimony. We encourage you to stay connected with us as we continue this important work to advance the profession and improve access to systemic mental health care.

2. Systemic reimbursement rate parity

MFTs know all too well the work inside and outside the therapy room that systemic treatment requires. We are continuing our work to achieve parity in systemic reimbursement rates. We've already made progress on this initiative with Medicaid systemic reimbursement parity, but we aren't stopping there!

3. Mental Health Access Expansion.

We are joining many other mental health provider associations and advocacy groups to work toward the systemic goal of mental healthcare expansion. Building on the landmark MH parity bill of 2025 we are looking to address many issues such as clawback regulation, federal professional definition regulations, student loan repayment programs and the implementation and enforcement of mental parity laws across Connecticut. Stay tuned for all the advocacy happening in 2026 and follow us on social media for important updates.

Other News Of Note:

Did you know that CTAMFT has already submitted testimony on five bills related to clawback regulation during this legislative session? Public hearings have been held in both the Insurance and Real Estate Committee and the Human Services Committee to address private insurance clawback practices and other critical barriers impacting mental health care. CTAMFT has been actively engaged in these conversations, advocating for meaningful change on behalf of our members and the clients we serve. We remain committed to ensuring that our voices are heard at every opportunity, especially when it comes to issues that directly affect providers and access to care.

Department of Education "Professional" Definition Changes

CTAMFT Community,

As many of you already know, the Department of Education has a negotiated draft rule that does not include MFTs, as well as MHCs, SWs and many other professions, as under a “professional degree” definition. This change would limit MFT students to a loan cap of $20,500 rather than $50,000 a year.

CTAMFT wants you to know that this is federal action. AAMFT, our national professional organization, has been actively advocating for the inclusion of MFTs in the professional degree definition throughout the rulemaking process, including joining coalitions of health professionals advocating for a more expansive definition of professional degree.

We have linked here two coalition statements AAMFT has signed on to within the last month that urge the Department of Education to classify MFT degrees and other healthcare degrees under a more inclusive professional degree definition.

https://aamft.informz.net/admin31/content/l.asp?u=1068586661&m=12161942&s=70701&p=2493&ln=previous%20eNews%20article&l=http://aamft.informz.net/AAMFT/data/images/eNews/Session%202%20of%20RISE%20Committee%20Sign%20On%202025.10.31.pdf

https://aamft.informz.net/admin31/content/l.asp?u=1068586661&m=12161942&s=70701&p=2493&ln=Coalition%20of%20Providers&l=http://aamft.informz.net/AAMFT/data/images/eNews/PARCA%20Letter%20on%20Professional%20Degree%20Programs%20for%20H.R.%201%20Implementation.pdf

The Department of Education (ED) is moving forward with draft rules that will fundamentally change how graduate students finance their education. Under the rule ED will propose, many healthcare professions are not classified as professional programs, but instead as graduate programs. "Graduate programs" will have a $20,500 annual limit, with a $100,000 total cap, while programs defined as "professional programs" will have a $50,000 annual limit, and $200,000 total cap. This means that many students, including MFT students, would be subject to significantly lower loan limits. This change will take effect on July 1, 2026, and will apply to new borrowers.

The ED is expected to open this proposed rule up for public comment early next year, most likely in January. AAMFT and many other healthcare associations will be submitting public comments to ED on this proposed rule. AAMFT will alert members once the public comment period begins.

We want you to know that there is action you can take NOW on this matter. We are asking all MFTs, student MFTs and even prospective MFT students to use this link to contact their congressman https://www.aamft.org/AAMFT/Advocacy/Take_Action.aspx#/109

It is important for Members of Congress to hear from their constituents on this important issue, and for you to ask Members of Congress to make sure that ED includes MFTs and other healthcare professions under the professional degree definition in the final rule.

In addition, AAMFT wants to hear how the federal graduate student loan program has supported your path to licensure and how these proposed limits would impact future students. Your stories will help us show Congress the real-world impacts of these changes on current and future MFT students, as well as how these changes will exacerbate the shortage of behavioral health providers. https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=tMcU0KRZ3E2oA3t3F2fMrTXgqMNRWwdOjN4B7L6ZhrVUOVc0WklFRjc2MFZOTkpBQVBQNU9VU0ZISS4u

If you would like to learn more about how this change will impact MFTs please read this article: https://aamft.informz.net/admin31/content/template.asp?ps=70701&sid=70661&ptid=2493&brandid=4918&uid=1068586661&mi=12131515&ps=70661

We, at CTAMFT, and MFTs across the nation will not allow this change to happen without our voices being heard! Let’s come together and use our systemic skills to take action NOW!

Please follow our website, social media accounts for updates and as always you can reach out to me at advocacy@ctamft.org with any further questions.

Jaime Rodriguez, LMFT

Advocacy Chair, CTAMFT

Family TEAM Lead, AAMFT

Other CTAMFT Advocacy Initiatives

Interprofessional Collaboration
CTAMFT's Advocacy Chair, Jaime Rodriguez, has worked very diligently at developing, fostering and repairing relationships with all LMHPs (Licensed Mental Health Professional) State organizations.

Jaime has participated in the newly developed Behavioral Health Interprofessional Collaboration (BHIC), which includes all 8 Connecticut LMHPs. (MFTs, LPCs, SWs, LADCs, APRNs, PAs, Psychologists and Psychiatrists).

Harnessing the systemic approach and combined voices of all Connecticut mental health professionals has significantly impacted our advocacy efforts and provided a live example of the power of systemic intervention MFTs bring to the field for both fellow colleagues and legislators.

NEW URGENT MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS CENTERS IN CT

Back in the 2022 legislative session funding was appropriated in HB 5001: AN ACT CONCERNING RESOURCES AND SUPPORT SERVICES FOR PERSONS WITH AN INTELLECTUAL OR DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY, for Urgent Mental Health Crisis Centers for youth and adolescents. CTAMFT Advocacy Committee not only advocates and testifies for MFTs and the Mental Health Community, but it also follows up through the implementation of all mental health legislation, so we would like to update all our members about the opening of these urgent mental health crisis centers in Connecticut.

The first three of the four urgent crisis centers are now open statewide through The Village for Families and Children in Hartford, The Child and Family Agency of Southeastern Connecticut in New London and Wellmore Behavioral Health in Waterbury; with the last soon to open in Yale-New Haven Hospital in New Haven. For additional information about referring clients in need of urgent mental health care, being a referral source for these urgent mental health crisis centers or employment at these urgent care centers please see the center specific links below. Please also see the link to the Public Act No. 23-137 for the language of this integral children’s mental health legislation. CTAMFT Advocacy matters and never stops supporting MFTs and the greater Mental Health Community in Connecticut! If you would like to be a part of CTAMFT’s Advocacy Committee and support the work of CTAMFT, email Advocacy Chair, Jaime Rodriguez, at advocacy@ctamft.org

https://www.cga.ct.gov/2023/ACT/PA/PDF/2023PA-00137-R00HB-05001-PA.PDF

https://thevillage.org/programs/urgent-crisis-center-ucc/

https://www.childandfamilyagency.org/urgent-crisis-center/#:~:text=We're%20open%20Monday%2DFriday,of%20hurting%20themselves%20or%20others.

https://www.wellmore.org/urgent-crisis-center

CONNIE

CTAMFT is currently collaborating with several committees to address the concerns related to the upcoming mandate of provider enrollment. For specifics of current CTAMFT recommendations, please visit our CONNIE page, here.

Private Insurance Concerns
CTAMFT continues to hear and understand the ongoing concerns and barriers to providers accepting private insurance.

CTAMFT Advocacy is still engaged in the private insurance workgroup that is comprised of legislators, mental health professional representatives and insurance carrier representatives.

We encourage you to document any and all private insurance carrier issues and submit them to the Insurance Commissioner, Andrew Mais, directly at the following email: cid.admin@ct.gov

CTAMFT Advocacy Committee is pursuing MH Parity as well as systemic parity in the 2025 legislative session.

Federal Advocacy Efforts

MFTs in Medicare

Provisions included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2023 signed into law in December 2022 added MFTs and MHCs as Medicare-eligible providers. This currently has an effective date of January 2024 and would be the first addition of licensed behavioral health providers to Medicare since 1989!

MFTS will be eligible in traditional, Medicare advantage, RHCs and FQHC settings.

Please see Advocacy Medicare page for more information on Medicare.

AAMFT has additional information and resources here.