Increasing Access to a Diverse Mental Health Workforce Through Emergency Reciprocity Licensure

Abstract

New Jersey's COVID-19 Temporary Emergency Reciprocity Licensure Program provided temporary licenses to more than 31000 out-of-state healthcare practitioners, over a quarter of whom were mental health providers. As the need for mental health care accelerated during the pandemic, especially among health disparity populations, expanding mental health provider pools may be a critical tool to increase access to care. In January 2021, we surveyed New Jersey's temporary licensees. We analyzed over 4500 mental health provider responses to examine the impact of the temporary licensure program on access to mental health care overall and on enhancing a diverse mental health workforce. Over 3700 respondents used their temporary license to provide mental health care to New Jersey patients. About 7% of respondents self-identified as Hispanic, 12% Black, 6% Asian, 1% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0% (more than 5) Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander. They treated about 30100 New Jersey patients, 40% of whom were new to the provider, and 81% delivered care exclusively using telehealth. Respondents conversed with patients in at least 13 languages. About 53% served at least one patient from an underserved racial/ethnic minority group. Our findings suggest that temporary out-of-state mental health providers helped enhance mental health care continuity and access.