What does a strategic portability effort entail?
Licensure portability is the ability to take an individual’s qualifications for a license in one state and apply them for licensure in another state. There can be many barriers that cause difficulty in this process, some of which are outlined in this Family Therapy Magazine article. A strategic portability effort looks to identify those barriers and mitigate them as much as possible to create a much easier portability process for those within the profession.
How does a strategic portability effort differ from a model portability law?
This Family Therapy Magazine article explains more about different types of portability efforts such as pursuing a model portability law and an interstate compact. AAMFT adopted a model portability law in 2018. This effort will focus on that model law. However, its intention and pursuit will be done with the highest strategic impact for MFTs as the driving force, meaning that focus areas will be selected based on the following criteria:
o Barriers to MFT licensure portability
o Number of MFTs potentially impacted
o Interest of MFTs in working/migrating to the area
o Client population
o Legislative body receptiveness
o Grassroots and professional services support
How does a strategic portability effort differ from an interstate compact?
An interstate compact is another means of pursuing easier portability for a profession that has become very popular in recent years. The details of which are explained also in the Family Therapy Magazine article. The chief differences between interstate compacts versus strategic portability efforts are that with interstate compacts, the law passed in each state must be exactly the same. That means that it must be written at a bar in which it will be acceptable to all states, even those that are not friendly to MFTs. With strategic portability, while the goal is to mirror the model law as closely as possible, it can be adapted to the unique environment in each state, provided it maintains the goal of making it easier for MFTs entering the state to achieve licensure to practice.
Why is AAMFT not pursuing an interstate compact for MFTs?
AAMFT researched the potential for an MFT compact for over a year - discussing the subject with industry partners, consulting with compact professionals, and conducting an extensive study with an outside firm. The data showed that while MFTs are very interested in multi-state licensure, and portability efforts that can open those doors, they have no preference for an interstate compact compared to any other method. Further, the states in which MFTs are most interested in multi-state licensure include several states like California and New York that, while being very MFT-populated states, have not yet entered into any interstate compacts in healthcare. Finally, the reality of the size of the MFT profession is such that with two of our largest states, and many in our industry excluded from a potential compact at this point, the costs of such an effort (easily in excess of $1,000,000 in the development phase alone) are extremely prohibitive, particularly when the benefit would only be for a small percentage of MFTs.
Since AAMFT is not pursuing a compact at this time, can state leaders or other MFT entities choose to pursue and launch a compact?
Pursuing an interstate compact requires an investment of substantial funds (estimated at over $1,000,000) to simply get the process started and develop the required infrastructure. It also necessitates the development and funding of an independent business, with annual expenses, to maintain and run the compact once it is launched. Many healthcare compacts continue to operate at an annual loss even years after they are launched. For these reasons, it would not be advisable for a small group, without sustainable funding and business infrastructure, to take on such an effort.
Could this effort result in national licensure?
Professional licensure is run through the various states; there is no such thing as “national licensure”. The federal government does not issue licenses to healthcare professionals and has no plans to create such national licenses. There is a misconception that the development of a compact in a profession is equal to national licensure, however, that is not accurate. Even the most prevalent healthcare compact (nursing) has not been accepted in all 50 states and the work on that compact has been ongoing for over 20 years[RS1] . When one joins a compact, they are still required to pay fees per state they wish to be licensed in, although those fees may be reduced somewhat.
How will the targeted states be selected?[RS2]
AAMFT will be selecting states for the strategic portability effort in phases based around the following criteria:
o Barriers to MFT licensure portability
o Number of MFTs potentially impacted
o Interest of MFTs in working/migrating to area
o Client population
o Legislative body receptiveness
o Grassroots and professional services support
In addition, AAMFT research has shown that MFTs are mostly interested in multi-state licensure with states that share borders so that consideration will also be weighted.
Because personal experiences, as well as “boots-on-the-ground”, are significant factors in any lobbying effort, MFTs will be asked to share relevant information and if they are interested in volunteering to work with professional services on an effort like this in their state. Have a story you are willing to contribute? Want to volunteer? Tell us more about yourself here.
How will this effort be funded?
The AAMFT Board of Directors has approved a development fund from the association’s reserves to be used for operational purposes. Funds from this will be used to develop and set-up the necessary background steps for this effort. Moving forward, this push will be funded through AAMFT’s Practice Protection Fund, donations to the portability effort, and AAMFT's normative budget. Because this is in addition to the normative threats and protections AAMFT seeks legislatively within the states, it will be vital that MFTs passionate about portability and multi-state licensure contribute to this effort.