Opinion: Let trained psychologists prescribe to improve mental health

Elizabeth New (Hovde) discusses how psychologists play a critical role in delivering mental health services in Washington

Elizabeth New (Hovde)
Washington Policy Center

Lawmakers in Washington state are revisiting a good proposal that would grant prescriptive authority to qualified psychologists through Senate Bill 5112. Seven other states allow this, as does the Department of Defense. We should, too. 

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Jessica Bateman, D-Olympia, aims to address a workforce issue and get more help for people with mental care needs by expanding the scope of practice for psychologists. We have too few psychiatrists, as was discussed at the public hearing for SB 5112. Psychologists could help them out. 

Psychologists play a critical role in delivering mental health services in Washington, often establishing deep therapeutic relationships with patients. However, prescriptive authority is limited to psychiatrists and leads to delays in treatment. SB 5112 outlines extra training and certification that would be required of psychologists who want to have prescriptive authority they can use