Update on Louisiana Prescription Privileges Law

Executive Directors of the State and Provincial Psychological Ass'n: January 22, 2005

The following statement is from APA's Practice Directorate:

A milestone was reached on January 20, when regulations to implement Louisiana's prescription privileges law for psychologists were published in the Louisiana Register. The regulations are effective immediately, now allowing the "medical psychologists", a term specifically used in the Louisiana law for psychologists with the post-doctoral master's degree in clinical psychopharmacology, to prescribe once certified by the Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists.

According to the statute and the regulations which implement it, medical psychologists will prescribe in consultation and collaboration with the patient's primary or attending physician, and with the concurrence of that physician. As such, the regulatory framework for psychologists prescribing in Louisiana exemplifies good collaborative practice, which will improve access to quality mental health services to citizens in that state.

Louisiana is now the second state to have implemented a prescriptive authority law. New Mexico implemented the first such state law earlier this month.

Helen L. Mitternight
Assistant Executive Director
Public Relations
American Psychological Association Practice Directorate
750 First Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002
202/336-5898