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March 25
Advocacy for Patient Safety in Montana
by  John CrosbyNo presence information  on 3/25/2011 5:15 PM

President Nichols wrote to the Montana House Human Services Committee on 3/21/11 to strongly encourage members to oppose SB 272, a bill that the AOA feels would grant inappropriate prescriptive authority to psychologists and grant inappropriate powers to the psychology board. President Nichols expressed our concerns that SB 272 expands psychologists’ scope of practice without adding sufficient safeguards to protect patients or expanding the education and training of psychologists. The AOA believes that a medical degree is required to properly diagnose psychiatric illness and to prescribe medications safely and effectively. To protect patients in Montana, we asked lawmakers to vote “no” on SC 272.  ​

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Advocacy for Patient Safety in Montana

Hi Mr. Crosby,
Hope all is well. While I nearly always argue on the physician-side of scope of practice argument, I have concerns about this particular instance. There is so much mental health in the community and I wonder if a place like Montana has enough resources (i.e. primary care physicians and/or psychiatrists) to provide timely care for these patients. Just something to think about, which I'm guessing the AOA already has done...
Alan
Alan Shahtaji on 3/25/2011 8:36 PM

Advocacy for Patient Safety in Montana

Dear Alan:

Thank you for the thoughtful comment regarding the AOA’s advocacy related to this bill.  The AOA recognizes the important role non-physician clinicians play in providing health care, a role especially important as we face a growing physician shortage and less access to primary care physicians.

Before we took a position on this bill – or before we act on any state legislation, for that matter – we consulted with the state osteopathic association in Montana, which is in a better position to understand what is best for its community.  In this case, we were advised that psychologists often argue that legislation granting them prescriptive authority is a way to provide greater access to care in rural areas.  However, our research shows that psychologists are not any better geographically situated to serve rural populations than psychiatrists are.

Furthermore, we believe that the goal should be to make the best medical care available to everyone, and not force patients, especially poor, elderly and those in rural areas, to settle for second best.

--John
John Crosby on 3/28/2011 6:09 PM
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