Prescribing rights expansion opposed by physicians group

April 10, 2011

Although legislatures in six states are considering bills allowing psychologists to prescribe psychotropic medications, physician groups say that it's a bad idea.

Although legislatures in six states are considering bills allowing psychologists to prescribe psychotropic medications, physician groups say that it's a bad idea.

Bills allowing psychologists to prescribe psychotropic medications have been introduced in legislatures in Arizona, Hawaii, Montana, New Jersey, Oregon, and Tennessee.

The American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association, state medical associations, and the National Alliance on Mental Illness oppose the idea, saying that psychologists don't have the training or education to prescribe drugs safely.