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[Fred A. Baughman Jr., MD: This plays right into the hands of Big Pharma which could want nothing more than more people--regardless of training/certification with pens and prescription pads. This is exactly why, in 1965, LBJ was sold on the need to increase the number of physicians nationwide and enacted laws that doubled the capacity of US medical schools and took the physician supply from an ideal 145(docs)/100,000 (citizens) to 300/100,000 today--a monstrous glut--the cause of our health care crisis with all of them so desparate for new patients that they have to invent treatments and running out of things to prescribe, invent diseases. Enter psychiatry and the DSM--Fred A. Baughman Jr., MD] http://www.psycport.com/ Nmsu Offers Psychologists Drug Training Albuquerque Journal - April 18, 2002 LAS CRUCES -- New Mexico State University is offering post-doctorate training for psychologists who want to prescribe drugs for mental illnesses after New Mexico became the first state to allow psychologists to prescribe such drugs. Elaine LeVine, head of the New Mexico Prescribing Psychologists Register, helped create NMSU's program and led the lobbying effort for the law, which goes into effect July 1. LeVine said she believes the law could greatly improve mental health care in rural areas. Only 18 of New Mexico's 95 psychiatrists live outside Albuquerque and Santa Fe, so there's a need in rural areas for people licensed to prescribe mental health medications, she said. NMSU's program began with 20 students in 1999. LeVine said the curriculum is based on a similar program offered by the American Psychological Association. Gov. Gary Johnson signed legislation March 5 asking the state Board of Medical Examiners and the state Board of Psychologist Examiners to work together to establish a program to train and certify psychologists in biosciences before letting them prescribe drugs. The law requires candidates to take 450 hours of instruction in neuroscience, pharmacology, physiology and other biosciences. They also must complete an internship supervised by a psychiatrist or other physician and treat at least 100 patients with mental disorders over an additional 400 classroom hours plus an 80-hour practicum in clinical assessment. Eventually, applicants will have to pass a test. During training, the psychologist will work with a physician, who will write prescriptions, LeVine said. The state then will issue the psychologist a two-year provisional license to prescribe under the supervision of a physician. Once that is completed, the psychologist may apply for a permanent license to write prescriptions without physician supervision. LeVine said 12 of the 20 psychologists who started NMSU's program will finish at the end of the year and will be ready to begin their supervised treatment of patients. Almost 40 percent of LeVine's patients are on medication, and her training in preparation for prescribing medications has helped her better understand the body-mind connection, she said. "Our philosophy is to use enough medication to allow patients to access their inner strength," LeVine said. "By having this tool, we have one more way to help our patients." The American Medical Association has opposed giving psychologists prescription authority. Some nurse practitioners in New Mexico already have authority to write prescriptions. © 1997 - 2002 Albuquerque Journal
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