prescribing privilege to psychologists in New Mexico

[psydoc]

One year has passed since the law that allowed psychologists to prescribe drugs in New Mexico took effect.
In my country (Italy), the chance that such a law may be approved in the foreseeable future is close to zero.
I'd like to know what the comments were in othe countries, do you think it's likely that other states decide to adopt this measure to improve mental health care in underserved populations?
Will the professional identity of psychologists and psychiatrists change as a result of this law?

psydoc

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[psyuk]

i would like to know on what grounds the new mexico government decided to make this change. i don't think giving psychologists the power to prescribe drugs would improve health care for the poor and underprevileged. instead the government should try to lower the cost of medications by creating compulsory licenses and adopting parallel importations.

the professional gap between the two has been narrowed as a result that is nothing but illusory, for i can't fathom psychologists properly interpreting pharmacological data that pertain to prescribing psychiatric medicine.

 

[DD214_DOC]

They have to go through classes and training before they can prescribe. They don't just hand current psychologists and prescription pad.

 

[PublicHealth]

JKD is right.

In Spring 2002, New Mexico became the second state to grant prescription privileges to Ph.D. level Psychologists. The University of New Mexico is changing their Ph.D. program to provide training in pharmacology. Individuals who wish to prescribe will need to pass an AMA written drug test. This test is in addition to the the national psychology exam and any state exams required. Psychologists passing these tests will hold a license to prescribe and a separate license for delivering therapy.

In 1993, Indiana granted prescription privileges to Psychologists completing approved programs and holding a valid drug license (DEA). Until 2002, this legislation was geared specifically toward individuals who completed the Air Force training program. However, it is unknown whether Indiana will also recognize Psychologists trained in New Mexico.

Ten additional states are considering granting prescription privileges to Ph.D. level Psychologists. The Arizona and Texas legislatures are expected to pass similar bills late in 2002 or 2003. It is not known if the respective governors will sign these bills into law. There is strong opposition from the American Psychiatric Association. For good reason, while these laws benefit the field of Psychology, at the same time they may signal the end of Psychiatry.

Source: http://course1.winona.msus.edu/rdeyo/prescription.htm

 

[MacGyver]

Psychologists being granted script rights has been a huge failure in both Indiana and New Mexico.

Originally, these laws were passed in the hopes that the psychiatrist shortage could be bypassed such that the new pscyhologists would help the underserved communities that could not get access to psychiatrists.

Well, it turns out that pscyhologists are just as fond of the big cities as are pscyhiatrists, so what happened is that there is still nobody to take care of hte underserved communities.

These new laws have totally failed--there are still huge blocks of people in New Mexico and Indiana who cant get any psychiatric care.

Other tactics need to be used that encourage psychiatrists to specifically relocate to rural/underserved areas instead of running off to the big cities where psychologists and psychiatrists are already in surplus.

Giving script rights to psychologists wont do a thing to change this problem.

 

[PublicHealth]

Originally posted by MacGyver
Psychologists being granted script rights has been a huge failure in both Indiana and New Mexico.

Originally, these laws were passed in the hopes that the psychiatrist shortage could be bypassed such that the new pscyhologists would help the underserved communities that could not get access to psychiatrists.

Well, it turns out that pscyhologists are just as fond of the big cities as are pscyhiatrists, so what happened is that there is still nobody to take care of hte underserved communities.

These new laws have totally failed--there are still huge blocks of people in New Mexico and Indiana who cant get any psychiatric care.

Other tactics need to be used that encourage psychiatrists to specifically relocate to rural/underserved areas instead of running off to the big cities where psychologists and psychiatrists are already in surplus.

Giving script rights to psychologists wont do a thing to change this problem.

WHERE'S YOUR DATA?

 

[psyuk]

Originally posted by JKDMed
They have to go through classes and training before they can prescribe. They don't just hand current psychologists and prescription pad.

Agreed, but how many psychologists are willing to go through this? A standard pharmacology course even gives med students nightmares. =) Also how many are willing to go to unserved areas in which they'd make considerabley less than they'd in cities as MacGuyver had stated?