Support the Washington State Prescribing Psychologist Bill: Expanding Access to Quality Healthcare
The undersigned individuals, including consumers, physicians, and behavioral health professionals, urge you to support the proposed legislation in Washington to grant prescriptive authority to psychologists with advanced and specialized training in clinical psychopharmacology.
Washington State consistently ranks in the bottom half nationally on mental illness prevalence and access measures. Tragically, the behavioral health needs of many in our State will continue to go unmet unless we take action.
The stringent requirements psychologists must meet to prescribe are comparable to other prescribers, such as psychiatric nurse practitioners, and the knowledge and competency are similar to those of psychiatrists. Prescribing psychologists have a long track record of safely prescribing in the military healthcare system as well as in the states of New Mexico, Louisiana, Illinois, Iowa, Idaho, Colorado, and recently, Utah. Prescribing psychologists also serve consumers in the Indian Health Service and the Public Health Service. We stand alongside other experts in the field who have supported and continue to support prescription authority for psychologists.
This will allow consumers to receive continuity of care when they see psychologists and not wait weeks or months to see an expert to get the medication they need. Prescribing psychologists can provide a single source for both psychotherapy and medication management. To see testimony from medical doctors and other prescribing providers who support prescribing psychologists, click here: https://wspapsych.org/rxp_info.php
Moreover, this change will bring hope to individuals with Medicaid, minorities, including the deaf and hard of hearing, and underserved individuals with disabilities. Together, we can expand access to mental healthcare for all.
Allowing psychologists the opportunity to join colleagues in other states to prescribe medication after extensive additional education and training will give Washington State another tool to combat the mental health crisis our State is facing. Thank you for your support!
Updates
Reached 1,000 supporters
December 16, 2024
August 11, 2024
I started this because I saw a gap in care that needed filling but I never imagined so many people would see it too. Reading your stories about waiting months for simple appointments has been eye-opening and deeply moving. This momentum is entirely because you decided to speak up.
Reached 100 supporters
December 13, 2023
352 Comments
I am a psychologist. My clients have to wait six months or more to get a first appointment with a psychiatrist. Most of my clients get anti-depressant medications from their PCPs, without ever being evaluated by someone with expertise in this area.
Prescribing psychologists can provide a single source for both psychotherapy and medication management reducing wait times for intervention and expanding access into rural areas where people with unmet mental health needs are most often underserved by psychiatry.
It's time to take a major step to improve access to behavioral health treatment in our state. As a practicing clinical psychologist, it is very difficult to locate prescribers for my patients, resulting in tragic delays of care.
As a military Officer, I have witnessed firsthand the benefit and impact prescribing psychologists have in military community. As someone who lives in Washington, I think it's an absolute shame that our community cannot have the same access to these services.
Not only does RxP increase immediate access to psychiatric care through people on the ground and specially trained, Washington becomes an attractive destination for other providers whose states do not have RxP. As others have said, WA won't regret this!
As an ASL student and a mom to a nonverbal child, this bill really hits home for me. Families dealing with communication barriers and disabilities already go through enough just trying to be understood, and nobody should have to wait months or travel out of state just to get the prescriptions and care they need. Giving trained psychologists the authority to prescribe right here in Washington makes total sense so everybody has fair access to care in one place.
I support expanding access to quality mental healthcare in Washington State. Allowing appropriately trained prescribing psychologists to provide medication services could help reduce barriers to care, especially for people who have difficulty accessing psychiatric providers. Any expansion should include strong education, training, licensing, and patient-safety requirements. Improving access to therapy and medication management can help more people receive timely and coordinated mental health.
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Support the Washington State Prescribing Psychologist Bill: Expanding Access to Quality Healthcare
The undersigned individuals, including consumers, physicians, and behavioral health professionals, urge you to support the proposed legislation in Washington to grant prescriptive authority to psychologists with advanced and specialized training in clinical psychopharmacology.
Washington State consistently ranks in the bottom half nationally on mental illness prevalence and access measures. Tragically, the behavioral health needs of many in our State will continue to go unmet unless we take action.
The stringent requirements psychologists must meet to prescribe are comparable to other prescribers, such as psychiatric nurse practitioners, and the knowledge and competency are similar to those of psychiatrists. Prescribing psychologists have a long track record of safely prescribing in the military healthcare system as well as in the states of New Mexico, Louisiana, Illinois, Iowa, Idaho, Colorado, and recently, Utah. Prescribing psychologists also serve consumers in the Indian Health Service and the Public Health Service. We stand alongside other experts in the field who have supported and continue to support prescription authority for psychologists.
This will allow consumers to receive continuity of care when they see psychologists and not wait weeks or months to see an expert to get the medication they need. Prescribing psychologists can provide a single source for both psychotherapy and medication management. To see testimony from medical doctors and other prescribing providers who support prescribing psychologists, click here: https://wspapsych.org/rxp_info.php
Moreover, this change will bring hope to individuals with Medicaid, minorities, including the deaf and hard of hearing, and underserved individuals with disabilities. Together, we can expand access to mental healthcare for all.
Allowing psychologists the opportunity to join colleagues in other states to prescribe medication after extensive additional education and training will give Washington State another tool to combat the mental health crisis our State is facing. Thank you for your support!
Updates
Reached 1,000 supporters
December 16, 2024
August 11, 2024
I started this because I saw a gap in care that needed filling but I never imagined so many people would see it too. Reading your stories about waiting months for simple appointments has been eye-opening and deeply moving. This momentum is entirely because you decided to speak up.
Reached 100 supporters
December 13, 2023
352 Comments
Behavioral health needs for the Deaf and hard of hearing community is a huge need for the all the Northwestern states. May the State of Washington be the 'Flagship' and Role Model in expanding access to Quality Healthcare for all Deaf and hard of hearing in Northwest.
I am a psychologist. My clients have to wait six months or more to get a first appointment with a psychiatrist. Most of my clients get anti-depressant medications from their PCPs, without ever being evaluated by someone with expertise in this area.
Prescribing psychologists can provide a single source for both psychotherapy and medication management reducing wait times for intervention and expanding access into rural areas where people with unmet mental health needs are most often underserved by psychiatry.
It's time to take a major step to improve access to behavioral health treatment in our state. As a practicing clinical psychologist, it is very difficult to locate prescribers for my patients, resulting in tragic delays of care.
As a military Officer, I have witnessed firsthand the benefit and impact prescribing psychologists have in military community. As someone who lives in Washington, I think it's an absolute shame that our community cannot have the same access to these services.
Not only does RxP increase immediate access to psychiatric care through people on the ground and specially trained, Washington becomes an attractive destination for other providers whose states do not have RxP. As others have said, WA won't regret this!
As an ASL student and a mom to a nonverbal child, this bill really hits home for me. Families dealing with communication barriers and disabilities already go through enough just trying to be understood, and nobody should have to wait months or travel out of state just to get the prescriptions and care they need. Giving trained psychologists the authority to prescribe right here in Washington makes total sense so everybody has fair access to care in one place.
I support expanding access to quality mental healthcare in Washington State. Allowing appropriately trained prescribing psychologists to provide medication services could help reduce barriers to care, especially for people who have difficulty accessing psychiatric providers. Any expansion should include strong education, training, licensing, and patient-safety requirements. Improving access to therapy and medication management can help more people receive timely and coordinated mental health.
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Behavioral health needs for the Deaf and hard of hearing community is a huge need for the all the Northwestern states. May the State of Washington be the 'Flagship' and Role Model in expanding access to Quality Healthcare for all Deaf and hard of hearing in Northwest.