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Senate hearing on Proyecto 1314: psychologists urge law to break APS’s grip on mental‑health contracting
Summary
At a Feb. 21 hearing, the Asociación de Psicólogos de Puerto Rico backed Proyecto del Senado 1314 to end an alleged APS monopoly in mental‑health service contracting, urging clearer contracting terms, stronger fiscal oversight and delivery of survey evidence that many psychologists say are considering emigration.
The Senate Commission on Community Initiatives, Mental Health and Addiction heard testimony Feb. 21 on Proyecto del Senado 1314, a proposal to amend Section 1 of Article 9 of Ley 72 (1993) to end what witnesses called a monopoly in mental‑health contracting and require insurers to contract directly with a range of providers.
The presiding senator opened the session saying the bill aims to “terminar de acabar con el monopolio en la salud mental” and to require insurers to contract directly with different mental‑health providers and institutions under equal conditions. Testimony that followed described longstanding access problems, structural barriers tied to private plans and a perceived concentration of control in APS (an administrative organization referenced in testimony as APS Health Puerto Rico).
Gerardo López Sánchez, director ejecutivo of the Asociación de Psicólogos de Puerto Rico, and Dra. Malvali Santana of the association told the commission their…
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