Idaho proposal would replace supervision with collaborative agreements for prescribing psychologists

Senator Mark Harris introduced RS32220 to the Idaho Senate Health and Welfare Committee, saying the measure "basically improves and streamlines practice of psychology in the state of Idaho." The legislation would replace the current supervision model for provisional prescribing psychologists with a collaborative agreement model and would eliminate a permanent advisory panel.

Harris told the committee that the current rule requiring a supervisor or supervision agreement with only an Idaho or adjoining-state physician has become cumbersome. "As a result, Idaho has only 8 prescribing psychologists since the bill to allow prescribing psychologists went into effect 8 years ago," he said, and the bill is intended to reduce barriers while maintaining patient safety.

Under the proposal, provisional prescribing psychologists would enter collaborative agreements with prescribers rather than meet the existing supervision criteria. Harris said the collaborative model is intended to be easier for both the provisional prescriber and the collaborating prescriber while preserving safeguards for patients.

After Harris' introduction, Senator Shippey moved to send RS32220 to print and Senator Buerke seconded. The committee approved the motion by voice vote; no roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript.