Colorado became the 6th state to enact prescriptive authority legislation for psychologists when Governor Jared Polis signed HB 1071 into law on March 3, 2023. Under this measure, eligible psychologists may prescribe psychotropic medications to their patients. Thanks to the efforts of Colorado Psychological Association, including Dr. Jin Lee who led CPA’s RxP task force, the bill had strong bipartisan support as well as support from Healthier Colorado, a vocal health policy advocacy group.
The law is similar to the New Mexico prescriptive authority requirements. To be eligible for credentialing as a Colorado prescribing psychologist, the individual must meet the following requirements:
- Colorado psychology license
- Master’s of Science degree in Clinical Psychopharmacology from an APA-designated program or inclusive of a minimum 450 hours of didactic instruction in specified core content areas
- Passage of the Psychopharmacology Exam for Psychologists (PEP)
- Completion of 750 hours of supervised clinical practicum treating a minimum of 150 patients under the supervision of a licensed physician
- Practicum training includes 80 hours of clinical assessment and pathophysiology under physician supervision and if treating special populations, 250 of the required 750 hours must include specifically treating the particular patient population
- Successful peer review process
- Appropriate professional liability coverage
Furthermore, the law requires that prescribing psychologists complete 40 hours of continuing education in psychopharmacology during every 2-year cycle (in addition to the 40 hours required for psychology licensure in Colorado) and maintain appropriate malpractice insurance. Prescribing psychologists must maintain an ongoing collaborative relationship with the patient’s primary care physician and if the patient does not have a primary care provider, the prescribing psychologist cannot prescribe medications for that patient. The law also allows prescribing psychologists to use telehealth to prescribe for their patients as well as order and review lab tests used in conjunction with prescribing psychotropic medications.
Rules implementing Colorado’s prescriptive authority law became effective on November 30, 2023.