Eliminating unnecessary regulations surrounding APRNs, peer support specialists, and telemedicine will increase options for mental health providers and lead to job growth. The state should consolidate health profession licensing and regulation into a single board with advisory panels similar to TDLR that is controlled by public appointees rather than market participants and consider a certification process rather than licensure for certain mental health professions.
Drug overdoses show limits of ‘harm reduction’ approach
The United States has reached a grim milestone. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , nearly 108,000 Americans fatally overdosed on drugs in 2021 — a 15% increase over 2020. This death toll tells only part of the story. For each overdose fatality, a family is left picking up the pieces, experiencing grief, and trying to...