The bill amends the Professional Psychologists Practice Act in Pennsylvania to facilitate the practice of prescribing psychologists by introducing new definitions such as "prescribing psychologist," "prescription certificate," and "psychotropic medication." It establishes the qualifications necessary for obtaining a prescription certificate, which include holding a doctoral-level license, a master's degree in clinical psychopharmacology, and completing supervised clinical training. Additionally, the bill requires prescribing psychologists to maintain a collaborative relationship with primary care providers to ensure comprehensive patient care and mandates ongoing education, specifying a minimum of sixteen hours of relevant continuing education for license renewal.

Moreover, the bill expands the State Board of Psychology from nine to eleven members to enhance representation of prescribing psychologists. It grants the board the authority to issue, revoke, or suspend licenses and requires it to maintain a list of prescribing psychologists. The legislation also introduces stricter regulations regarding the issuance of prescriptions, including the necessity for a valid certificate for prescriptive authority and the requirement for obtaining a release of information from patients to contact their primary care providers. Additionally, it broadens the criteria for license refusal, suspension, or revocation to include disciplinary actions from other states and establishes penalties for unlawful practice, thereby aiming to improve patient care coordination and ensure compliance with legal standards in psychology.

Statutes/Laws affected:
Printer's No. 2171 (Jul 24, 2025): P.L.136, No.52