Rep. Rodriguez: Votes to expand access to mental health services
MADISON – State Representative Jessie Rodriguez (R-Oak Creek) voted for several bills aimed at expanding access to mental health services in the state of Wisconsin.
Senate Bill 196 (SB 196) – otherwise known as the Counseling Compact – will increase the amount of professional counselors serving Wisconsin patients by enabling counselors from other states to obtain a privilege to practice in Wisconsin more expediently, so long as they meet uniform licensure requirements. Assembly Bill 541 (AB 541) expands access to telehealth services by making it easier for out-of-state mental health professionals to practice via telehealth.
“These two bills will help Wisconsinites in need of mental health services by increasing the pool of professionals providing services in our state, whether that be in-person or virtually,” explained Rep. Rodriguez.
Assembly Bill 576 (AB 576) establishes peer support and critical incident stress management (CISM) service teams. “Peer support teams provide support to public safety employees. We know public safety employees, such as law enforcement officers, witness trauma on the job. AB 576 will assist them by getting them one-one-one support to help them cope with the trauma they experience at work,” said Rodriguez.
These bills passed with bipartisan support in the Assembly and now go to the Senate for deliberation.
