Two Bills in the New York Legislature Could Radically Impact Patient Safety

In the New York state legislature, two bills would rapidly reduce protections for patients.

Lawmakers in Albany, New York are considering two bills that dramatically expand scope of practice for non-physicians. S66/A1262 would expand psychologist scope to include prescriptions. And S853/ A608 would allow pharmacists to administer mental health medications.

Under S66/A1262, psychologists would be authorized to prescribe a drug, laboratory test, or any medicine, device or treatment, including controlled substances. This bill would grant them “prescriptive authority” to administer and/or distribute drugs (including controlled substances) without charge.

S853/ A608 would empower pharmacists to administer medications for mental health and substance abuse disorders under their own authority and without physician supervision. The bill has passed the Assembly on 1/31/23 and can now be voted on in the Senate.

Mental healthcare is extremely complex. The medications employed by psychiatrists are treated with care, experience, and a healthy understanding of the associated risks. Giving psychologists and pharmacists the role of a physician, but without the training and expertise, will erode patient safety. These bills could fragment care for mental health patients, increasing the risk of non-follow-up during treatment. In psychiatric medicine, a patient’s health status must be carefully, holistically, and longitudinally assessed by a properly trained physician. These bills could put the physician-led mental healthcare model into disarray throughout New York.

Empire State physicians: We encourage you to contact your state legislators in both the Senate and Assembly. Share your expert opinion on how these bills would impact medical care and patient safety.