THE SENATE	S.R. NO.	32
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

 

 

requesting the department of commerce and consumer affairs to convene a task force to provide recommendations for granting prescriptive authority to qualified psychologists in the counties of kaua   i, maui, and hawai   i.

 

 

        WHEREAS, there is a significant shortage of prescribing mental health care providers available to serve the needs of the State's residents in rural or medically underserved communities, especially in Hawai   i, Maui, and Kaua   i counties; and

 

        WHEREAS, the lack of access to appropriate mental health treatment has serious and irrevocable consequences; and

 

        WHEREAS, according to the Department of Health, of the ten-leading injury-related causes of death, death by suicide is the number one cause among Hawai   i residents; and

 

        WHEREAS, studies have shown that people who attempt or commit suicide often received inadequate or no mental health treatment due to a shortage of community mental health providers; and

 

        WHEREAS, while causes for suicide are complex, the most commonly reported contributing factors are mental health conditions that, when identified and treated, respond favorably to therapy and psychotropic medication; and

 

        WHEREAS, clinical psychologists are licensed health professionals with an average of seven years of post-baccalaureate study and three thousand hours of post-graduate supervised practice in diagnosis and treatment of mental illness; and

 

        WHEREAS, the American Psychological Association has developed a model curriculum for a Master's Degree in psychopharmacology for the education and training of prescribing psychologists, however, the existing scope of clinical psychologists' practice in Hawai   i does not include prescribing medications; and

 

        WHEREAS, Hawai   i has previously authorized prescription privileges for a number of other health care professionals, and federal facilities have long allowed licensed clinical psychologists with specialized education and training to prescribe psychotropic medications in certain circumstances; and

 

        WHEREAS, authorizing qualified clinical psychologists with appropriate advanced training to prescribe from a limited formulary of psychotropic medication will benefit Hawai   i residents, especially those who live in rural or medically underserved communities; now, therefore,

 

        BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2021, that the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs is requested to convene a task force to provide recommendations for granting prescriptive authority to qualified psychologist applicants in the counties of Hawai   i, Maui, and Kaua   i; and

 

        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force, with the assistance of the Board of Psychology, is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2022; and

 

        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force be dissolved on June 30, 2022; and

 

        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Director of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, and Executive Officer of the Board of Psychology.

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:  

Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; Task Force; Prescriptive Authority; Clinical Psychologists