Senate panel sends bill easing rules for prescribing psychologists to the floor

Senate Health and Welfare Committee members voted to send Senate Bill 1088 to the Senate floor with a due-pass recommendation after committee testimony from the bill sponsor, psychologists who treat patients in Idaho and the Idaho Psychological Association.

The bill, presented by Senator Mark Harris, would change how Idaho regulates prescribing psychologists by phasing out a physician-only supervision model and replacing it with a collaborative agreement that can include experienced prescribers such as nurse practitioners, pharmacists and other prescribing psychologists; it would also remove a permanent advisory panel the sponsor calls obsolete and add a background-check requirement for new licenses to conform with the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT).

Supporters told the committee the existing supervision rule has limited Idaho’s…