Idaho bill would shift prescribing-psychologist oversight from supervision to collaborative agreements

Boise — Sen. Mark Harris, R-District 35, introduced RS32220 to change how Idaho regulates prescribing psychologists, saying the measure would "improve and streamline practice of psychology in the state of Idaho." The bill would replace the current supervision requirement with a collaborative agreement model for provisional prescribing psychologists and eliminate a permanent advisory panel.

Why it matters: Harris told the Senate Health and Welfare Committee the existing supervision requirement — that supervisors be licensed in Idaho or an adjoining state — has been cumbersome and has coincided with only eight prescribing psychologists in Idaho since the law allowing them took effect eight years ago. He argued the proposed collaborative model would "maintain patient safety" while reducing barriers for provisional prescribers and collaborating prescribers.

Committee action: Senator Shippey moved to send RS32220 to print; Senator Buerke seconded. The motion passed on a voice vote; the transcript records the committee saying "aye." No formal roll-call tally was given in the transcript.

Details and limits: Harris described the proposal as shifting from a supervision model to a collaborative agreement and removing a permanent advisory panel; the transcript does not provide bill text or specific language changes beyond that description. The committee did not debate specific statutory language, funding implications, or regulatory implementation at the introductory stage.

Next steps: The chair accepted the introduction and the request to print, which begins the formal drafting and assignment of the RS for possible future hearings and committee markup.