Pennsylvania residents will soon be able to access behavioral healthcare even if they’re out of state or move away, thanks to a bill that passed 188-14 in the state House in late June.

When signed by Gov. Josh Shapiro into law, the commonwealth will become the 39th state to join a country-wide collaboration to offer such care across state lines.

“Anything that expands access to behavioral health counseling I think is so critically important,” said Tracy Pennycuick, R-Berks, and a bill co-sponsor.

The COVID-19 pandemic proved telehealth services for behavioral healthcare were both popular and necessary, as the technology was able to reach patients who were sick, had mobility issues, lacked transportation or were out of state. More than two-thirds of physicians in 2024 reported using telehealth services in their practice, per the American Medical Association.

Lawmakers lauded the bipartisan bill, which passed overwhelmingly in both the House and Senate.

“In a time when we’re dealing with a mental health crisis, where suicide is one of the leading causes of death among adults, and now sadly children, I commend this general assembly for taking action and passing legislation … that will have a direct impact on Pennsylvania residents,” said House Rep. Jennifer O’Mara, D-Delaware, during the bill’s final consideration.

The bill adds Pennsylvania to the Interstate Counseling Compact, a collaboration started in 2019 by the American Counseling Association and the nonprofit Council of State Governments to simplify behavioral health licensure.

Psychologists, social workers, marriage and family therapists and professional counselors all provide therapy but require separate licenses and training. Behavioral health workers’ licenses also only apply to one state — if providers want to treat patients in a neighboring state, they need a separate license.

In 2015, psychologists developed their own “pact” to serve patients in other states through the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact, or Psy-Pact, but other types of behavioral health providers could not counsel patients if they traveled or moved out of state.

The Interstate Counseling Compact thus gives the same benefits to professional counselors. Providers in these 39 states and the District of Columbia can open satellite offices in nearby states or treat patients who cross borders to seek care.

“This is needed because, for several years now, there has been much more focus on the fact that mental health is health, and people are seeking mental healthcare at higher rates they ever have,” said Maddie Stevens, a professional counselor and chair of the Pennsylvania Counseling Association’s Government Relations Committee, which advocated for the bill’s passage.

“This has created a bit of a crisis, because there are not enough helpers to go around,” she said.

The bill will allow Pennsylvania to better recruit and retain qualified behavioral healthcare workers, said Lisa Boscola, D-Lehigh/Northampton and a prime sponsor, in a Monday statement to the Post-Gazette. “That's exactly the kind of commonsense legislation we should be passing.

The strength of the relationship between provider and patient is also the single biggest predictor of positive outcomes, according to research, so it’s better for patients to stay with their counselor than restart care.

“This allows so much more flexibility for clients to maintain the care they need, so that we’re not putting strain on other healthcare systems,” said Stevens.

All neighboring states of the commonwealth, aside from New York, are already part of the pact. Opponents of the bill have previously said it gives the Interstate Counseling Compact too much power over state licensure. Stevens also expects arguments about data sharing.

But with 39 states already on board, Pennsylvania’s addition will benefit residents struggling to seek care, she said.

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