Senate Bill 2570 aims to amend various sections of the Tennessee Code Annotated to establish a framework for psychologists to obtain prescriptive authority. The bill introduces a new section, 63-11-227, which defines key terms such as "prescribing psychologist" and outlines the requirements for obtaining an advanced certificate to prescribe medication. This includes holding a current doctoral-level license, completing a post-doctoral master's degree in clinical psychopharmacology, passing a prescribing examination, and completing a supervised fellowship. The bill also stipulates that prescribing psychologists can only prescribe medications for behavioral health or mental disorders and must maintain records of prescriptions issued.

Additionally, the bill makes several amendments to existing laws, replacing references to "veterinarian" and "optometrist" with "prescribing psychologist" in various contexts, thereby recognizing their new role in the healthcare system. It also clarifies that the board of examiners in psychology will oversee the certification process and the renewal of prescriptive authority, which will require continuing education. The act will take effect upon becoming law for rule promulgation purposes, while the full provisions will be effective from July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 39-17-402(23)(A), 39-17-402, 53-10-105, 63-7-103(a)(2)(D), 63-7-103, 63-10-204(42), 63-10-204, 63-11-204(a), 63-11-204, 63-11-218(a), 63-11-218, 63-31-101, 68-29-121