A bill allowing licensed clinical psychologists to prescribe medication in Hawaii cleared two state Senate hearings this week.
A bill allowing licensed clinical psychologists to prescribe medication in Hawaii cleared two state Senate hearings this week.
House Bill 1072 is the most recent point on a lengthy timeline seeking to establish regulations for psychologists to prescribe, with supporters saying it will help fill a sizable gap in the state’s mental health services.
Reports from the Hawaii Physician Workforce Assessment Project indicate that Hawaii Island has an unmet need for psychiatric services. There are currently 14 psychiatrists on the island, but there is a need for 23, according to the past two years of workforce assessment.
The need is statewide but especially pronounced in rural areas, said Dr. Hannah Preston-Pita, a clinical psychologist and CEO of the Big Island Substance Abuse Council.
“We just don’t have individuals who we can call as providers (if we have) a client who’s requiring some medications,” she said.
“Really, we do not have the sufficient caregivers on this island to provide for the mental health needs of the residents here,” Rep. Mark Nakashima (D- Hamakua, Hilo), a co-introducer of the bill, told the Hawaii Tribune-Herald. “This is not perfect, but I think that it is an alternative that we have to take a look at.”
HB 1072 carried over from last year’s session, when it cleared the House but did not receive a Senate hearing.
Nakashima said increasing access to mental health services would also help address other community issues such as homelessness and veterans care.
Both psychiatrists and clincial psychologists evaluate mental health conditions and offer psychotherapeutic services. Because they are licensed physicians — having completed medical school and residency training — psychiatrists can prescribe medication in all 50 states.
Three states — Illinois, Louisiana and New Mexico — also allow clinical psychologists who have completed a doctoral program and additional training in psychopharmacy to prescribe.
HB 1072 is modeled after Illinois’ authorizing program, which requires undergraduate biomedical coursework, a 14-month practicum, supervised clinical training, and a clinical rotation phase.
Opponents of the bill say the training is not enough to make safe prescribing decisions and that efforts should instead focus on recruiting more physicians to the islands.
In testimony during the House hearings, the Hawaii Medical Association wrote, “State monies could be better spent making Hawaii an attractive and competitive place to practice medicine.”
More than 280 pages of testimony, including a 204-signature petition from the Psychologists Opposed to Prescription Privileges for Psychologists, have been submitted so far.
Email Ivy Ashe at iashe@hawaiitribune-herald.com.