To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to give marriage and family therapists participating in the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program the option of completing a postgraduate degree clinical training program that is accredited by the State in which the program is located in lieu of such a program that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education.
This bill allows marriage and family therapists to participate in the federal National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program with more flexible training requirements. Currently, therapists in this program must complete postgraduate training accredited by a specific national commission, but this legislation lets them instead complete training that is accredited by their state. The change applies to therapists who are already participating in or enrolling in the loan repayment program, which helps pay down student debt for healthcare workers in underserved areas. The bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services to update its program guidance to reflect this new option. By lowering barriers to entry, the legislation aims to increase the number of therapists available in underserved communities, particularly in rural areas like California's Central Valley.
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