Board News

December DHHR Letter            January Board Response          WV Court Information

Fellow Psychologists,

 Please be advised, the West Virginia Board of Examiners of Psychologists has posted on its website the most recent correspondence between the Bureau of Medical Services and the Board. These documents are also attached to the current email for your convenience. As Licensed Psychologists, your avenue of recourse is obviously your professional association or other professional resources. The Board’s obligation is the public welfare. Our concerns relate to potential conflicts with the Ethics Code and HIPAA and also to loss of providers to underserved populations. Increasing numbers of psychologists report they are declining DHHR referrals for evaluations regarding abuse/neglect, parental fitness, and other related issues citing cumbersome billing procedures, seemingly arbitrary payment determinations, and the threat of future rollbacks of payments for completed work. We are determined to take all possible steps to ensure West Virginia citizens have access to timely high quality ethical psychological services and will continue to make suggestions to outside organizations when necessary.

The Board would also like to take this opportunity to thank West Virginia’s hard working psychologists. As an agent of the State of West Virginia authorized to regulate the practice of psychology, the Board is aware of the difficulties facing licensees as they struggle to provide high quality services in economically difficult times, meet sometimes conflicting ethical and legal requirements, and yet continue to exhibit exemplary standards of professionalism.

Sincerely and on behalf of the West Virginia Board of Examiners of Psychologists,

Tina M. Yost, Ed.D.

WVBOEP, President