By Erin Philp, MA, JD
Director of State Government Relations
American Psychiatric Association
Washington, DC
APA’s Director of State Government Relations provided an update on scope of practice legislation and advocacy developments across the 50 states and Washington, DC.
During this update, Erin reviewed recent history and changes in APRN, physician assistant, and prescribing psychologist laws at the state level. She also shared a mini-advocacy training on the topic by giving the audience effective arguments against expanding prescribing authority.
Lawmakers are looking for solutions to the nation’s mental health crisis, and APA district branches must provide these legislators safe, effective alternatives to unsafe prescribing legislation. In that vein, Erin shared several different pieces of model legislation that can help physician advocates pivot from unsafe legislation to effective legislation that upholds patient safety and increases access to care. She also provided an action alert that APA members can use to introduce themselves to their state legislators and offer themselves as a resource. It is crucial to build these relationships with legislators before there is negative legislation to oppose.
If you’re interested in building a relationship with your state legislators, please visit https://tinyurl.com/mpz76hkc to send them an introductory email. Please contact [email protected] to learn more about APA’s state advocacy program.
