Existing law provides for the licensure of psychologists by the Board of Psychological Examiners. (NRS 641.160, 641.170, 641.196) The Board also registers psychological assistants, psychological interns and psychological trainees. (NRS 641.226) Section 10 of this bill defines “behavioral health and wellness practitioner” to mean a person who is licensed pursuant to practice behavioral health promotion and prevention. Section 11 of this bill defines “behavioral health promotion and prevention” to mean the supervised clinical use of prevention and early intervention strategies relating to the mental health of a child. Section 20 of this bill applies those definitions to the provisions of existing law governing licensure by the Board. Sections 13-19 and 21-49 of this bill provide for the licensure and regulation of behavioral health and wellness practitioners by the Board. Section 13: (1) requires the Board to adopt certain regulations governing behavioral health and wellness practitioners; and (2) authorizes the Board to accept gifts, grants, donations and other funds to assist in carrying out the provisions relating to behavioral health and wellness practitioners. Section 28 of this bill authorizes the Board to adopt additional regulations governing the practice of behavioral health promotion and prevention. Section 14 authorizes the Board to establish a Behavioral Health and Wellness Practitioner Advisory Group to provide the Board with expertise and assistance relating to the regulation of behavioral health and wellness practitioners. Section 15 prescribes the required qualifications to obtain a license as a behavioral health and wellness practitioner, and section 30 requires an applicant for such a license to undergo a fingerprint-based background check. Sections 16 and 17 prescribe procedures relating to the expiration and renewal of such a license. Section 18 authorizes certain providers of health care, including an advanced practice registered nurse who has psychiatric training and experience, to supervise a behavioral health and wellness practitioner. Section 5 of this bill requires the State Board of Nursing to adopt regulations establishing the psychiatric training and experience necessary for an advanced practice registered nurse to provide such supervision. Section 33 establishes the maximum fees for the issuance or renewal of a license to practice behavioral health promotion and prevention. Sections 21-23, 25 and 35-47 make the procedures for the investigation and discipline of psychologists and the grounds for disciplinary action against psychologists also apply to behavioral health and wellness practitioners. Section 48: (1) prohibits a person from representing himself or herself as a behavioral health and wellness practitioner unless he or she is licensed as a behavioral health and wellness practitioner; and (2) authorizes certain persons in a course of study to practice behavioral health promotion and prevention to engage in the supervised practice of behavioral health promotion and prevention without a license. Section 49 makes the practice of behavioral health promotion and prevention without a license or under a false or assumed name a gross misdemeanor. Section 12 of this bill provides that provisions governing psychologists and persons who provide behavioral health promotion and prevention services do not apply to certain government employees. Section 59 of this bill creates a privilege for certain confidential communications between a patient and a behavioral health and wellness practitioner that is similar to existing privileges for such communications with other providers of behavioral health care. (NRS 49.207-49.254, 49.290) Sections 19, 24, 26, 31 and 32 make conforming changes to include behavioral health and wellness practitioners within existing provisions where appropriate and exclude behavioral health and wellness practitioners from existing provisions that apply only to psychologists. Sections 1-4, 6, 34, 50, 52, 54, 56-58 and 60-62 of this bill make various revisions to treat behavioral health and wellness practitioners in the same manner as other similar providers of health care in certain circumstances. Section 7 of this bill clarifies that a music therapist is not authorized to practice behavioral health promotion and prevention. Sections 8, 51, 53 and 55 of this bill provide that a behavioral health and wellness practitioner acting within his or her scope of practice is not violating provisions governing certain other providers of health care. Existing law requires public and private policies of health insurance regulated under Nevada law to include certain coverage. (NRS 287.010, 287.04335, 422.27172-422.272428, 689A.04033-689A.0465, 689B.0303-689B.0379, 689C.1652-689C.169, 689C.194, 689C.1945, 689C.195, 689C.425, 695A.184-695A.1875, 695A.265, 695B.1901-695B.1948, 695C.050, 695C.1691-695C.176, 695G.162-695G.177) Existing law also requires employers to provide certain benefits for health care to employees, including the coverage required of health insurers, if the employer provides health benefits for its employees. (NRS 608.1555) Sections 66, 74, 75 and 77 of this bill require Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program to include coverage for behavioral health promotion and prevention services provided by a behavioral health and wellness practitioner by January 1, 2026. Sections 64, 65, 67, 69-73, 78 and 79 of this bill require other public and private health insurers to provide such coverage and include behavioral health and wellness practitioners in their networks by July 1, 2026. Section 63 of this bill makes a conforming change to require the Director of the Department of Health and Human Services to administer the provisions of section 66 in the same manner as other provisions relating to Medicaid. Section 68 of this bill authorizes the Commissioner of Insurance to require certain policies of health insurance issued by a domestic insurer to a person who resides in another state to include the coverage required by section 67. Section 76 of this bill authorizes the Commissioner to suspend or revoke the certificate of a health maintenance organization that fails to comply with the requirements of sections 74 and 78. The Commissioner would also be authorized to take such action against other health insurers who fail to comply with the requirements of sections 67, 69-73, 77 and 79. (NRS 680A.200) Section 80 of this bill makes various appropriations to the Nevada System of Higher Education and certain institutions within the System for the establishment of: (1) programs for the education and training of behavioral health and wellness practitioners; (2) an accredited internship program for child psychologists; and (3) scholarships for students enrolled in programs for the education and training of providers of health care who may supervise behavioral health and wellness practitioners.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 629.031, 629.550, 629.580, 629.600, 632.120, 632.472, 640D.060, 640E.090, 641.010, 641.020, 641.022, 641.023, 641.024, 641.0245, 641.026, 641.029, 641.040, 641.100, 641.111, 641.160, 641.220, 641.222, 641.228, 641.2291, 641.230, 641.245, 641.250, 641.2705, 641.272, 641.273, 641.274, 641.285, 641.312, 641.314, 641.316, 641.318, 641.320, 641.390, 641.440, 641A.297, 641B.040, 641B.355, 641C.130, 641C.610, 641D.110, 7.095, 41A.017, 42.021, 200.471, 200.5093, 226.454, 232.320, 287.010, 287.04335, 689A.330, 689C.425, 695C.050, 695C.330
BDR: 629.031, 629.550, 629.580, 629.600, 632.120, 632.472, 640D.060, 640E.090, 641.010, 641.020, 641.022, 641.023, 641.024, 641.0245, 641.026, 641.029, 641.040, 641.100, 641.111, 641.160, 641.220, 641.222, 641.228, 641.2291, 641.230, 641.245, 641.250, 641.2705, 641.272, 641.273, 641.274, 641.285, 641.312, 641.314, 641.316, 641.318, 641.320, 641.390, 641.440, 641A.297, 641B.040, 641B.355, 641C.130, 641C.610, 641D.110, 7.095, 41A.017, 42.021, 200.471, 200.5093, 226.454, 232.320, 287.010, 287.04335, 689A.330, 689C.425, 695C.050, 695C.330