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Mental health experts sought Law change ensures parity on Mental Health and Substance Abuse Board

Frederick Press-Leader - 5/22/2017

OKLAHOMA CITY — Legislation guaranteeing one allopathic physician and one osteopathic physician will be appointed to the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Board was signed into law by Gov. Mary Fallin.

House Bill 1708, authored by Rep. Mike Ritze (R-Broken Arrow) and Sen. Ervin Yen (R-Oklahoma City), mandates that at least one member of the MHSA Board be an allopathic physician licensed to practice in Oklahoma, and at least one other member be an osteopathic physician licensed to practice in Oklahoma. Additionally, one of the two positions appointed to the board must be a psychiatrist.

“This change will not only help provide equality to the board but will also ensure that a breadth of experience is represented,” Ritze said. “I appreciate the governor for realizing the necessity of this legislation and signing it into law.”

HB 1708 was helped through the legislative process by the Oklahoma Medical Association. The changes to the board won’t affect the current makeup of the board, and all current board members will remain on the board for the duration of their term.

“We were happy to get this done,” Gary Bastin, a representative of the Oklahoma State Osteopathic Association said. “The true heroes of this legislation, however, are Senator Yen, Representative Ritze and the lawmakers that voted for this measure.”