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 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 intervention strategies relating to mental and behavioral health. 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 authorizes the Board to adopt additional regulations governing the practice of behavioral health promotion and prevention. Section 14 requires 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 83 eliminates the Advisory Group on December 31, 2028. Section 37.5 of this bill makes a conforming change to remove a reference to the Advisory Group after it ceases to exist. 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 provides that any privilege for communications between a patient and the supervisor of a behavioral health and wellness practitioner also applies to communications between the patient and the behavioral health and wellness practitioner and other persons involved in the provision of behavioral health promotion and prevention services under the supervision of the behavioral health and wellness practitioner. 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 the Department of Health and Human Services to develop and administer a State Plan for Medicaid which includes a list of specific medical services required to be provided to Medicaid recipients. (NRS 422.063, 422.270) Section 66 of this bill requires Medicaid to include coverage for behavioral health promotion and prevention services provided by a behavioral health and wellness practitioner. Section 63 of this bill makes a conforming change to require the Director of the Department to administer the provisions of section 66 in the same manner as other provisions relating to Medicaid. To carry out the purposes of section 66, section 79.5 of this bill requires the transfer of money from the Account to Improve Health Care Quality and Access in the State General Fund to the Nevada Medicaid budget account and authorizes the expenditure of certain federal funding. Existing law: (1) creates the Account to Improve Health Care Quality and Access to hold the revenue collected from assessments and penalties imposed in certain circumstances against an operator of an agency to provide personal care services in the home or a medical facility that is required to obtain a license; and (2) requires the Division of Health Care Financing and Policy of the Department of Health and Human Services to administer the Account. (NRS 422.3791-422.3795) Existing law: (1) creates the Fund for a Resilient Nevada to hold the proceeds of certain litigation by this State concerning the manufacture, distribution, sale or marketing of opioids; and (2) requires the Director of the Department of Health and Human Services to administer the Fund. (NRS 433.732-433.740) Section 80 of this bill requires the Director to make allocations, as reimbursement during the 2025-2027 biennium from the Fund, to the Nevada System of Higher Education and certain institutions within the System for the costs of the establishment of: (1) programs for the education and training of behavioral health and wellness practitioners; (2) an accredited internship program for psychologists with an emphasis in child psychology; 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
Reprint 1: 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
Reprint 2: 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
As Enrolled: 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
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