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Senate Health & Welfare reviews H237 to let doctoral psychologists prescribe under strict conditions
Summary
The committee examined H237, which would create a prescribing specialty for doctoral-level psychologists, require postdoctoral psychopharmacology training, a written collaborative agreement with a psychiatrist, and board oversight; physician groups praised safeguards but raised questions about necessity.
The Senate Health & Welfare committee reviewed H237, a House-passed bill that would create a prescribing specialty for doctoral-level psychologists and give the Board of Psychological Examiners authority to regulate that specialty.
Supporters said the bill is intended to expand access to mental health care. Becky Lewandowski, representing the Vermont Psychological Association, told the committee, “the purpose is to, sort of increase access to mental health services by allowing the psychologist with this expanded training with a collaborative agreement, to be able to prescribe themselves.”
The bill adds definitions to the psychologists chapter in Title 26 and authorizes the Board of Psychological Examiners to oversee the new specialty. Eligibility for the specialty would require an active…
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