The growing national mental health crisis and shortage of psychiatric specialists to meet the demand has harmed patients in every one of our districts. Too many individuals working to appropriately manage their mental health needs find themselves stymied by long wait times -- if they are able to find a practice that is accepting new patients at all.  
 
Due to the critical shortage of psychiatrists, most psychotropic medications are currently prescribed in Pennsylvania by primary healthcare professionals: primary care physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. These expert professionals are wonderful resources, but often have limited training specific to mental health treatment.   
  
The federal government, through the Department of Defense and the Public Health Service, and seven states have recognized the value of allowing psychologists the ability to prescribe and deprescribe psychotropic medications to appropriately meet the demand for therapeutic drugs while providing specialized expertise.  
 
Prescribing psychologists would increase patient access to psychotropic medications, including treatments for substance use disorders, depression and anxiety, under the care of doctorate level professionals with an additional post-doctoral masters degree in psychopharmacology dedicated to understanding the complexity of mental health disorders. 
 
Soon, Senator Yaw will introduce a bill that will define the educational requirements and the scope of practice for prescribing psychologists, describe the collaborative relationship between the prescribing psychologist and the patient’s primary care provider, and identify the formulary for the medications that may be prescribed. 
  
Prescribing psychologists would follow the normal professional study including a bachelors, masters, doctorate and clinical rotations. Prescribing psychologists earn an additional post-doctoral master’s degree emphasizing psychopharmacology and the biological basis of behavior, pass a rigorous national exam, and receive supervision in practice.  
  
Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, New Mexico, Louisiana, Colorado and Utah have all taken this step, and prescribing psychologists have safely and effectively prescribed psychotropic medications in the Public Health Service, Indian Health Service, the US Military and Guam for more than 30 years.