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SPONSOR: |
Aragon |
DATE TYPED: |
02/07/02 |
HB |
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SHORT TITLE: |
Prescriptive Authority to Psychologists |
SB |
231 |
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ANALYST: |
Sandoval |
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APPROPRIATION
|
Appropriation
Contained |
Estimated
Additional Impact |
Recurring or Non-Rec |
Fund Affected |
||
|
FY02 |
FY03 |
FY02 |
FY03 |
|
|
|
|
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$7.0 |
|
Recurring |
Other State Funds |
(Parenthesis)
Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
REVENUE
|
Estimated Revenue |
Subsequent Years Impact |
Recurring or Non-Rec |
Fund Affected |
|
|
FY02 |
FY03 |
|
|
|
|
|
$4.5 |
|
Recurring |
Other State Funds |
(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Revenue Decreases)
Duplicates HB 170
Attorney General
Department of Health
SUMMARY
Synopsis
of Bill
Senate Bill 231 adds
prescribing psychologists to the definition of “practitioners” under the New Mexico
Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act and Controlled Substance Act.
This bill also allows licensed psychologists to hold a conditional prescription certificate and prescribe psychotropic medication under the supervision of a licensed physician if the psychologist meets certain additional educational, supervision and examination requirements. After practicing successfully under the conditional prescription certificate for 2 years, the licensee can apply for a prescriptive certificate and practice independently. When prescribing psychotropic medication, both the prescribing psychologist and/or the psychologist with a conditional prescriptive certificate shall maintain a collaborative relationship with a health care practitioner who oversees the patient’s general medical care.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
The New Mexico State Board
of Psychologist Examiners (the board) recommends adding an
additional board member who has advanced training in psychopharmacology to the
State Board of Psychologists Examiners to assist with the review of the
application procedures, rules and regulations.
If such a candidate is not added to the board, training for board
members and/or the board administrator is advisable. This training would cost $2.0.
The drafting of rules and regulations, holding public hearings, publishing proposed rules, final adoption of rules and regulations and printing costs will come to approximately $3.0.
Appointing a subcommittee to work and review
applications of prescribing psychologists, and complaints, if any will cost
$2.0.
The board will need to be given additional
budget authority of $7.0 to use fund balances to pay for these additional
costs. The board’s estimated fund
balance for FY03 is $158.4.
If the bill is successful, the estimated revenue
will be approximately $4.5 annually.
This increase in revenue projection is based upon the current
application fee of $0.3 and an estimate of approximately 15 candidates who will
qualify under the conditional prescription certificate ($0.3 X 15 = $4.5).
CONFLICT/DUPLICATION/COMPANIONSHIP/RELATIONSHIP
Senate Bill 231
duplicates House Bill 170
OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES
·
Psychologists who become licensed to prescribe
psychotropic drugs may have to seek licensure with the Board of Pharmacy
depending on the scope of their practice or if they open a clinic.
·
The New Mexico Health Policy Commission believes
this bill may allow hospitals and mental health facilities, particularly in
rural areas, more staffing flexibility where recruitment of psychiatrists is
difficult and may also bring cost savings to patients.
·
There is currently no mechanism for the New
Mexico Board of pharmacy to register psychologists to prescribe psychotropic
medication and a review of the Board of Pharmacy regulations will be necessary
to implement the provisions of this bill.
POSSIBLE QUESTIONS
1. Will psychologists trained in prescribing
psychotropic medication increase accessibility to mental health care?
2. Will there be significant cost savings to New
Mexico residents?
3. Will the required training be sufficient in
scope, content and clinical experience to insure quality of care that is
currently provided by other practitioners with prescribing authority?
4. Will there be more options to patients in
rural areas or areas where physician shortage exists?
[1]Begin typing on the * in replace mode. Do not add or delete spaces.