Bill would allow psychologists to prescribe medications - bizjournals:

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Psychologists say the measure will increase access to psychiatric care in ruralp and urban areas of the state where there is a shortagwof psychiatrists. But psychiatrist groups said allowingg non-medical doctors to prescribe drugs would endangerpatiengt safety. “The main issue with this wholwe thing is the idea that can prescribe medication safely with the level of trainin they aresuggesting they’ll need,” said Dr. Jerryg Halverson, chairman of the ’s legislative committee.
“Mostg psychologists don’t need any biology as an undergraduats andthe master’s degrees they are talkinv about getting is basically 11 weeks over two yearws done primarily over the Internet. That makes me very uncomfortable.” Sarab Bowen, executive director of the , said opposition to the bill is similard to the turf battle that occurredd when advanced practice nurses and physicia assistants soughtprescriptive authority. “Wre haven’t heard any horror stories come from that and now they are a valuabler part of the healthcare community,” Bowen said.
In order to be given prescription authority, a psychologisrt would need to have their doctoral practice in a clinical setting for a minimum of three years, complete a 450 creditf hour post-doctoral program and have a minimum of one year of supervisec experience from a physician. Once that is completed, they would need to pass a nationalk exam. Bowen estimates about 15 percent of psychologists will undergo theadditionall training. “We look at this as a sub-specialthy within psychology and we certainly believse that the additional training and experiencs should answer any additional safety she said.
There are about 1,700o licensed psychologists in Wisconsin, according to the although not all are Brian Wolf, a Kenosha psychologist, completed his post-doctoral master’s degree in clinical psychopharmacology at in Teaneck, N.J., in 2006. He said he hopew the law passes so his patientas who needmedication don’rt have to wait an average of nine weeks to see a “We’ll remain psychologists first and we’re going to continude focusing on therapy,” Wolf said. “This is just one more tool we can State Sen. Judy Robson introduced the billin April.
It has been referred to a Senatr health committee and likely will be put on hold untilp after the state budget is passed this saidNadine Gratz, a spokesperson for Louisiana and New Mexico are the only states that alloq psychologists to prescribe drugs. The Wisconsin bill has been backec by the and many groups representing nursingb homes andrehabilitation facilities. Paul Miller, chief operations office r with , said the two parties who will ultimatelty determine if this law is valuable are healtyh insurance providersand patients. “In this business, what we see time and time agaihn is ultimately insurers dictate a standard of practice by deciding what is Miller said.