Bill would allow psychologists to prescribe medications - bizjournals:

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Psychologists say the measure will increase access to psychiatrixc care in rural and urban areaxs of the state where there is a shortage of psychiatrists. But psychiatrist groups said allowinh non-medical doctors to prescribe drugs would endangeerpatient safety. “The main issue with this whole thing is the idea that can prescribe medication safely with the level of training they aresuggesting they’ll said Dr. Jerry Halverson, chairmajn of the ’s legislative “Most psychologists don’t need any biology as an undergraduatr andthe master’s degrees they are talkingv about getting is basically 11 weeke over two years done primarily over the Internet.
That make me very uncomfortable.” Sarah Bowen, executive director of the , said oppositio n to the bill is similar to the turf battles that occurred when advanced practicew nurses and physician assistantse soughtprescriptive authority. “We haven’t heared any horror stories come from that and now they are a valuable part of the healthcare community,” Bowen said. In orde r to be given prescription authority, a psychologisg would need to have theirdoctoral degree, practiced in a clinical setting for a minimum of three years, complete a 450 credit hour post-doctoral prograk and have a minimum of one year of supervised experienc from a physician.
Once that is completed, they woulds need to pass a national exam. Bowej estimates about 15 percent of psychologists will underg theadditional training. “We look at this as a sub-specialtty within psychology and we certainly believe that the additionaol training and experience should answert any additionalsafety concerns,” she said. There are abouyt 1,700 licensed psychologists in according tothe association, although not all are Brian Wolf, a Kenosha psychologist, completedx his post-doctoral master’s degree in clinical psychopharmacologt at in Teaneck, in 2006.
He said he hopex the law passes so his patients who needmedicatiojn don’t have to wait an average of nine weeksz to see a psychiatrist. “We’ll remain psychologistsz firstand we’re going to continuee focusing on therapy,” Wolf “This is just one more tool we can State Sen. Judy Robson (D-Beloit) introduced the bill in It has been referred to a Senate health committe e and likely will be put on hold untipl after the state budget is passe dthis summer, said Nadine Gratz, a spokesperso n for Robson. Louisiana and New Mexico are the only states that allos psychologists toprescribe drugs.
The Wisconsin bill has been backefd by the and many groups representing nursinhg homes andrehabilitation facilities. Paul Miller, chief operationsz officer with , said the two parties who will ultimatelhy determine if this law is valuablew are health insurance providersand “In this business, what we see time and time again is ultimately insurers dictate a standard of practicse by deciding what is reimbursable,” Miller said.