Committee hears bill expanding HEALWA access to psychological and counselor associates

The Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee on March 14 heard House Bill 1190, a bill to expand access to the University of Washington Health Sciences Library’s Health Evidence Resource for Washington (HEALWA) to psychological associates and mental health counselor associates.

Rohan Bhattacharjee, committee staff, briefed the committee that HEALWA provides online clinical information and educational resources to eligible health care providers and that 26 professions are currently authorized to access the resource. The bill would add psychological associates and mental health counselor associates to the eligible list; staff said the measure passed the House 96–0.

Representative Matt Marshall, the bill’s prime sponsor, said the change was requested by psychology and mental health counselor associates so they could access current research, data and continuing education opportunities. "This was brought to me by the Psychology Associates and mental health associates, because they would like to have access," Marshall said.

Shannon Thompson, representing the Washington Mental Health Counselors Association and testifying in support, said the associates were left out of prior authorizations and the bill simply grants access that similar provider types already have. Committee staff clarified that the authorization is linked to a fee: there is a fee of $25.25 that is charged to eligible users and the bill adds the new professions to the section authorizing that charge.

The committee recorded public sign-in counts of 65 pro, 0 con, and 1 other. Testimony and staff briefing indicated no additional state cost because access is incorporated into licensing fees and no committee vote was taken at the hearing; the bill was set for further consideration.