Idaho senator seeks to ease supervision rules for prescribing psychologists

Sen. Mark Harris, R-35, introduced a legislative request (RS32220) to change how psychologists who prescribe medications are supervised in Idaho, telling the Senate Health and Welfare Committee the current supervision rules are “cumbersome” and have limited uptake since the prescribing-authority law passed.

Harris said the bill would move Idaho from a supervision model that requires a supervisor or supervision agreement with an Idaho or adjoining-state physician to a collaborative-agreement model intended to reduce barriers for provisional prescribing psychologists while maintaining patient safety. He also said RS32220 would eliminate a permanent advisory panel and otherwise amend provisions in the Psychologist Act.

If enacted as drafted, the change would alter who can serve as the supervising/collaborating prescriber and the formal relationship between prescribing psychologists and medical prescribers. Harris said only eight prescribing psychologists have been authorized in Idaho since the law enabling prescribing psychologists took effect eight years ago; he described that limited adoption as evidence the current supervision model is overly restrictive.

The committee received no substantive questions on the measure. Senator Shippey moved to send RS32220 to print; Senator Buerke seconded. The committee approved the motion by voice vote and the request was sent to print.

RS32220 was introduced for drafting and further review; the transcript records only the committee’s voice approval to send the RS to print, not a final bill vote or enacted language. Future hearings or the printed text will be required to learn precisely how the Psychologist Act would be changed and which collaborative arrangements would be permitted.