In the near future, I plan to introduce legislation to grant prescriptive authority to psychologists. This legislation will define the educational requirements and the scope of practice for prescribing psychologists, describe the collaborative relationship between the prescribing psychologist and the patient’s primary care provider, and identify the formulary for the medications that may be prescribed.

In April, the Center for Rural Pennsylvania held a public hearing focusing on advancing rural mental health awareness and support. Testimony revealed patients are forced to wait weeks for psychiatric services due the to the critical shortage of psychiatrists especially in rural Pennsylvania. Granting prescriptive authority to psychologists will expand care for many Pennsylvanians who are unable to receive such care under the current system.
  
The federal government, through the Department of Defense and the Public Health Service, and seven states including Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, New Mexico, Louisiana, Colorado, and Utah have recognized the value of allowing psychologists the ability to prescribe and deprescribe psychotropic medications to appropriately meet the demand for therapeutic drugs while providing specialized expertise. Prescribing psychologists have safely and effectively prescribed psychotropic medications for more than 20 years.
    
Under this legislation, prescribing psychologists would follow the normal professional study including a bachelors, masters, doctorate, and clinical rotations. Prescribing psychologists would have to earn an additional post-doctoral master’s degree emphasizing psychopharmacology and the biological basis of behavior, pass a rigorous national exam, and receive supervision in practice.  
  
I hope you will join me in co-sponsoring to this important legislation.