Legislation Detail
SB 127/a PROFESSIONAL PSYCHOLOGIST ACT CHANGES
Actions: [3] SCC/SHPAC/SJC-SCC [2]germane-SHPAC [6] DP/a-SJC- DP [7] PASSED/S (36-0) [10] HHHC/HJC-HHHC [12] DP-HJC [14] DP [15] PASSED/H (57-4) SGND BY GOV (Feb. 29) Ch. 26.
Scheduled: Not Scheduled
SB`127 provides for prescribing pshchologist to administer intramuscular injections.Legislation Overview:
Synopsis: SB127 relates to licensing by modifying the Professional Psychologist Act and modifying definitions and modifying the structure of the Board of Psychologist Examiners, and clarifying terms, and allowing a prescribing psychologist to prescribe and administer intramuscular and subcutaneous injections and, creating a committee to evaluate licensing complaints against prescribing psychologist. Analysis: SB 127 modifying definitions such as ,psychotropic medication which now means a controlled substance or dangerous drug that may not be dispensed or administered without a prescription deleting language that describes the primary requirement that the drug , but is limited to only those agents related to the diagnosis and treatment or management of mental, nervous, emotional, behavioral, substance use or cognitive disorders, including the management of or protection from side effects that result from the use of those agents, whose use is consistent with the standards of practice for clinical psychopharmacology. New language, adding "supervising clinician" means a licensed physician, osteopathic physician, prescribing psychologist who has at least four years of independent experience prescribing psychotropic medication to treat behavioral and emotional conditions and mental illness, nurse practitioner, psychiatric nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist who is supervising a psychologist in the prescribing of psychotropic medication. The additions of four years’ experience prescribing psychotropic medication to treat behavioral and emotional conditions has been inserted. The eight member Board of Examiners of which four are to be licensed under the Psychologist Licensing Act will now consist of two members of the four, who are prescribing psychologist. Also, a psychologist with a conditional prescription certificate may prescribe and administer psychotropic intramuscular injections and subcutaneous injections to include antipsychotic medications and: (1) injectable medication used in the treatment of substance use disorders under the supervision of a supervising clinician and upon completion of advanced training; or (2) injectable medication used in the treatment of substance use disorders upon completion of Board approved training. Other new languages states that a committee composed of two prescribing psychologist members of the Board and two members of the New Mexico Medical Board shall be established and, pursuant to the guidelines, shall evaluate licensing complaints against prescribing psychologists and report its findings and recommendations to each Board for appropriate action. The committee shall develop education requirements for expanded practice and present these requirements to each board for approval. The effective date for this Act is July 1, 2024.Amendments:
Amended January 30, 2024 in SHPAC SHPACa/SB127: The Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee amendment on SB127 adds several paragraphs to read: "E. If a prescribing psychologist or psychologist with a conditional prescription certificate deems it necessary to prescribe drugs for the management of or protection from side effects that are a direct result of psychotropic medication, the prescribing psychologist or psychologist with a conditional prescription certificate shall notify and discuss with the health care practitioner who oversees the patient's general medical care within twenty business days of issuance of the prescription. F. A psychologist with a conditional prescription certificate may prescribe and administer psychotropic medication injections under the supervision of a supervising clinician and upon completion of board-approved training. G. A prescribing psychologist may prescribe and administer psychotropic medication injections upon completion of board-approved training." In addition, the committee is to provide a quarterly report to respective boards on prescribing psychologist on scope of practice expansion.