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Committee reviews H.237 changes on doctoral prescribing psychologists, clinical rotation and collaborative practice rules
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Summary
Lawmakers discussed H.237, a bill setting licensure, clinical‑rotation and collaborative practice rules for doctoral‑level prescribing psychologists; members reviewed senate amendments that condensed rotation specialties, shortened rotation months, and added an OPR reportback requirement.
The House Committee on Health Care reviewed H.237 on April 16, discussing amendments that set training, clinical rotation and collaborative practice requirements for doctoral‑level prescribing psychologists.
Committee members examined section changes that direct the Board of Psychological Examiners within OPR to adopt rules for a prescribing psychologist specialty, including minimum curriculum requirements and the structure of clinical rotations. A member summarized the bill’s intent: the specialty is limited to doctoral‑level psychologists who complete postdoctoral psychopharmacology training, clinical rotations in specified practice settings and a national certifying exam; prescriptive authority is issued through a collaborating physician under a written agreement.
Members noted changes in the senate amendment: clinical rotations were reduced from nine specialties to five, the rotation length was shortened from 18 months to 14 months, and neurology was added while pediatrics, obstetrics/gynecology and surgical specialties were removed. The committee also discussed a new reporting requirement directing OPR to report to the legislature and to the Agency of Human Services on how many psychologists have taken up the specialty and the availability of collaborating practitioners.
Questions focused on who counts as a collaborating practitioner, with members clarifying that the bill language requires a physician (MD/DO) collaborator and that the prescribing authority is limited to drugs that the collaborating practitioner would prescribe in the ordinary course of practice. Committee members asked for clarifications about timelines and OPR rulemaking; the chair conducted a straw poll on the recommended amendment approving the senate changes.
Committee members agreed to cobble together bill report materials and proceed with in‑committee processes. The discussion concluded with informal committee business and a short recess.
