AK HB353

Increases required clinical contact hours for marital and family therapy licensure from 1,500 to 1,700 hours of supervised direct clinical contact with couples, individuals, and families.

Clarifies supervision requirements by specifying that 100 hours of individual supervision and 100 hours of group supervision can be conducted by one or more supervisors.

Adds marital and family therapists' services to the list of optional medical assistance services that the department may offer under Alaska's Medicaid program.

Allows group supervision to be provided by professional counselors, marital and family therapists, psychiatrists, psychologists, or clinical social workers.

Effective date is January 1, 2019, except for regulation authorization provisions which take effect immediately.