The bill adds 2 members to the state board of psychologist
examiners (board) and requires 2 of the 9 members of the board to be prescribing psychologists.
The bill allows a licensed psychologist to prescribe and administer
psychotropic medications if the licensed psychologist holds a conditional prescription certificate or a prescription certificate issued by the board.
A licensed psychologist may apply to the board for a conditional
prescription certificate and must include in the application satisfactory evidence that the applicant has met specific educational, supervisory, and clinical requirements. The board is required to issue a conditional prescription certificate to the licensed psychologist if the board determines the applicant has met the requirements. The licensed psychologist with a conditional prescription certificate may only administer and prescribe psychotropic medications under the supervision of a licensed physician or advanced practice registered nurse and must maintain a collaborative relationship with the patient's health-care provider.
A licensed psychologist who holds a conditional prescription
certificate for 2 years and who meets the specified requirements may apply for and receive a prescription certificate (prescribing psychologist). A licensed psychologist with a prescription certificate may prescribe psychotropic medication to a person if the licensed psychologist:
•
Holds a current license in good standing;
•
Maintains the required malpractice insurance; and
•
Annually completes at least 20 hours of continuing education.
The board is authorized to promulgate rules to: •
Implement procedures for obtaining a conditional prescription certificate and a prescription certificate; and
•
Establish grounds for denial, suspension, and revocation of the certificates.
The bill requires a prescribing psychologist and a licensed
psychologist with a conditional prescription certificate to file with the board all individual federal drug enforcement administration registrations and numbers. The board and the Colorado medical board are required to maintain current records of every psychologist with prescriptive authority, including registrations and numbers.
The department of regulatory agencies (department) is required to
annually collect information regarding prescribing psychologists and licensed psychologists with conditional prescription certificates, to compile the information, and to share the information with the office in the department responsible for conducting sunset reviews for inclusion in each scheduled sunset review concerning the regulation of mental health professionals.
