Senate File 133 - Introduced SENATE FILE 133 BY COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (SUCCESSOR TO SSB 1008) A BILL FOR An Act relating to the requirements for a prescribing 1 psychologist or a psychologist with a conditional 2 prescription certificate. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 4 TLSB 1160SV (2) 90 pf/rh

S.F. 133 Section 1. Section 154B.1, subsections 3 and 5, Code 2023, 1 are amended to read as follows: 2 3. “Collaborative relationship” means a cooperative 3 working relationship between a prescribing psychologist or 4 a psychologist with a conditional prescription certificate 5 and a licensed physician in the provision of patient primary 6 care provider as defined in section 280A.1 who oversees 7 the patient’s general medical care, including diagnosis and 8 cooperation in the management and delivery of physical and 9 mental health care. 10 5. “Physician” means a person licensed to practice medicine 11 and surgery or osteopathic medicine and surgery in this state 12 who is board-certified in family medicine, internal medicine, 13 pediatrics, psychiatry, or another specialty who prescribes 14 medications for the treatment of a mental disorder to patients 15 in the normal course of the person’s clinical medical practice 16 pursuant to joint rules adopted by the board of psychology and 17 the board of medicine. 18 Sec. 2. Section 154B.10, subsection 1, paragraphs d and e, 19 Code 2023, are amended to read as follows: 20 d. Within five years immediately preceding the date of 21 application, successfully Successfully completed a postdoctoral 22 master of science degree in clinical psychopharmacology 23 approved by the board of psychology and the board of medicine 24 pursuant to joint rules adopted by both boards. The program 25 shall at a minimum include coursework in neuroscience, 26 pharmacology, psychopharmacology, physiology, and appropriate 27 and relevant physical and laboratory assessments. 28 e. Within five years immediately preceding the date 29 of application, has Has been certified by the applicant’s 30 supervising physician as having successfully completed a 31 supervised and relevant clinical experience in clinical 32 assessment and pathophysiology and an additional supervised 33 practicum treating patients with mental disorders. The 34 practica shall have been supervised by a trained physician. 35 -1- LSB 1160SV (2) 90 pf/rh 1/ 3

S.F. 133 The board of psychology and the board of medicine, pursuant to 1 joint rules adopted by the boards, shall determine sufficient 2 practica to competently train the applicant in the treatment of 3 a diverse patient population. 4 Sec. 3. Section 154B.12, subsection 2, Code 2023, is amended 5 to read as follows: 6 2. When prescribing psychotropic medication for a patient, 7 the prescribing psychologist or the psychologist with a 8 conditional prescription certificate shall maintain an ongoing 9 collaborative relationship with the licensed physician primary 10 care provider as defined in section 280A.1 who oversees 11 the patient’s general medical care to ensure that necessary 12 medical examinations are conducted, the psychotropic medication 13 is appropriate for the patient’s medical condition, and 14 significant changes in the patient’s medical or psychological 15 condition are discussed. 16 EXPLANATION 17 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 18 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 19 Under current law, to be granted a conditional prescription 20 certificate, an applicant who holds a current license to 21 practice psychology in the state, among other requirements, 22 must within five years immediately preceding the date of 23 application, have both successfully completed a postdoctoral 24 master of science degree in clinical psychopharmacology 25 approved by the board of psychology and the board of medicine, 26 and have been certified by the applicant’s supervising 27 physician as having successfully completed a supervised 28 and relevant clinical experience in clinical assessment and 29 pathophysiology and an additional supervised practicum treating 30 patients with mental disorders. This bill retains both of 31 these requirements but eliminates the condition that these 32 requirements must have been completed within the five years 33 immediately preceding the date of application for a conditional 34 prescription certificate. 35 -2- LSB 1160SV (2) 90 pf/rh 2/ 3

S.F. 133 Current law requires that when prescribing psychotropic 1 medication for a patient, the prescribing psychologist or 2 the psychologist with a conditional prescription certificate 3 shall maintain an ongoing collaborative relationship with the 4 licensed physician in the provision of patient care. The bill 5 instead provides that the ongoing collaborative relationship 6 be with the patient’s primary care provider who oversees the 7 patient’s general medical care, rather than the patient’s 8 licensed physician. 9 The bill also redefines “physician” for the purposes of Code 10 chapter 154B (psychology). Current law defines “physician” 11 to mean a person licensed to practice medicine and surgery 12 or osteopathic medicine and surgery in this state who is 13 board-certified in a speciality who prescribes medications 14 for the treatment of a mental disorder. The bill removes the 15 condition that the licensed person also be board-certified in 16 the speciality. 17 -3- LSB 1160SV (2) 90 pf/rh 3/ 3