Support the Washington State Prescribing Psychologist Bill: Expanding Access to Quality Healthcare

I totally support the petition.

Fully support this petition.

I fully support this petition.

#Meantalhealthmatters

Live in Seattle, WA I currently need to see a psychiatrist in the event that I may need medication; had I been able to seek a psychologist then this would have streamlined the support needs that I need.

We need more access to qualified Psychologists to provide medicines for those who really needed ASAP

This is an incremental policy shift that will take some time to manifest in expanding access to care. I urge the legislature to act now to prevent further unnecessary delay. Please do not listen to the anti-RxP lobby and psychiatrists who grandstand and catastrophize. This is a much needed change and affects only the highly trained doctoral-level mental health practitioners who are far more educated in diagnosing and treating mental health conditions than ARNP’s and psychiatrists who already do and who frequently over-pathologize patient distress and often make quick diagnoses in emergency situations. Psychologists deserve more respect and trust because we do not make hasty regrettable decisions per our standard of care. We are less likely to over-medicate than those prescribers because we often remove inappropriate diagnoses and follow-up regularly to monitor patients’ progress and prescribing psychologists often discontinue unnecessary meds. This also provides greater choice for patients among providers and levels of care. Also, please reduce the logistical overhead and barriers to entry that this program will create. Psychologists are already in training longer with more education than any other mental health post-secondary education and have more hours of clinical supervision than the other fields. Safety has been monitored for decades already in other states and prescribing psychologists have the lowest rates of malpractice claims among all practitioners. There is simply no good reason to deny this becoming law. Please make this a higher priority this legislative session.

#mentalhealthmatters

I am a clinical psychologist in a multidisciplinary healthcare setting and frequently interact with patients with psychiatric medication concerns but difficulty accessing skillful and timely medication adjustments. RxP has a clear track record of safety and success, and legislation in WA is long overdue.

Yes !! I totally support this !!

I work in eastern Washington as a primary care behavioral health consultant. We are constantly understaffed to meet the needs of our community, and our patients have long wait times for behavioral medicine, primary care, and psychiatric services. I wholeheartedly support expanding prescriptive authority to psychologists with advanced and specialized training in the appropriate fields.

Needed in Washington

Rural areas really need this!!!

Affitmative

Please support WA State Prescribing Psychologist Bill - expanding access to quality healthcare!

Support this petition

#mental health matters

#mental health matters

#mentalhealthmatters

Mental health is real !!! Support is needed !!!