Dear Representative/Senator

<p>I am asking for your support of HB1000 and SB 1243 which will grant prescriptive authority to psychologists. Presently in Pennsylvania, if someone is in need of medication to help them with their psychiatic disorder, they may see a psychiatrist or their primary care physician, who frequently opts to refer a person to a psychiatrist due to their speciality.</p> <p>Wait times for psychiatric appointments are extensive; a person may have to wait months to be seen and providers are also unable to hire qualified psychiatrists due to this shortage. This delay may cause visits to the emergency department, prolonged stay at a higher level of care, or other interventions that may be costly to the person or behavioral health system and in addition this wait may cause unecessary trauma to an individual. </p> <p>According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the current workforce of about 45,580 psychiatrists must increase by 2,800 to meet today’s demands for psychiatric care. Based on a Pennsylvania Psychological Association (PPA) survey, granting Pennsylvania psychologists prescriptive rights would increase prescribers by 900. Several states, such as Louisiana, New Mexico, Illinois, Iowa, Idaho, as well as Indian Health Services, have already allowed psychologists to prescribe medications.</p> <p>By allowing psychologists prescriptive rights, Pennsylvania would be helping child-serving providers and youth have more access to the quality mental health care they so desperately<br />need and would assist psychiatrists decrease the extensive wait times for their service.</p> <p>Thank you in advance.</p>