Bill would allow psychologists to prescribe medications - bizjournals:

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Psychologists say the measure will increase access to psychiatric care in rural and urban areas of the state wheres there is a shortageof psychiatrists. But psychiatrist groups said allowinvg non-medical doctors to prescribe drugs woulcd endangerpatient safety. “The main issu e with this whole thing is the idea that can prescribe medication safely with the level of training they aresuggesting they’ll need,” said Dr. Jerry Halverson, chairmaj of the ’s legislative committee.
“Most psychologistws don’t need any biology as an undergraduated andthe master’s degrees they are talking abouy getting is basically 11 weeks over two yearsw done primarily over the Internet. That makese me very uncomfortable.” Sarah Bowen, executive directorr of the , said opposition to the bill is simila r to the turf battle that occurred when advancef practice nurses and physicianm assistants soughtprescriptive authority. “W e haven’t heard any horror stories come from that and now they are a valuables part of the healthcare community,” Bowenm said.
In order to be given prescription a psychologist would need to have their doctoral practice in a clinical setting for a minimum ofthreer years, complete a 450 credit hour post-doctora program and have a minimun of one year of supervised experience from a physician. Once that is they would need to pass anational exam. Bowejn estimates about 15 percent of psychologists will undergo theadditiona training. “We look at this as a sub-specialty within psycholog y and we certainly believe that the additional training and experiences should answer any additionalsafetyu concerns,” she said.
There are about 1,700 licensefd psychologists in Wisconsin, accordinyg to the association, although not all are Brian Wolf, a Kenosha psychologist, completed his post-doctoral master’s degrere in clinical psychopharmacology atin Teaneck, N.J., in 2006. He said he hopesa the law passes so his patients who needmedication don’tf have to wait an averag e of nine weeks to see a psychiatrist. “We’ll remain psychologists first and we’re going to continus focusing on therapy,” Wolf said. “This is just one more tool we can State Sen.
Judy Robson (D-Beloit) introduced the bill in It has been referred to a Senatre health committee and likely will be put on hold untilp after the state budget is passedthis summer, said Nadins Gratz, a spokesperson for Robson. Louisianas and New Mexico are the only states that allos psychologists toprescribe drugs. The Wisconsin bill has been backeds by the and many groupa representing nursing homes and rehabilitation Paul Miller, chief operations officer with , said the two partie who will ultimately determine if this law is valuable are health insurance providers and “In this business, what we see time and time againb is ultimately insurers dictate a standard of practice by decidinv what is reimbursable,” Miller said.