Assembly Bill 1196 (Montanez)

The California Psychiatric Associations supports AB 1196 (Montanez). The bill is sponsored by the California Association of Nurse Practitioners. It would authorize nurse practitioners to furnish Schedule II medications to patients pursuant to patient-specific and diagnosis/condition-specific protocols. With respect to psychiatric patients, this bill should improve access to care while preserving quality of care.

AB 1196 is consistent with the Policy Statement on Access to Psychiatric Services adopted last year by our organization That policy calls for the following actions to improve access to psychiatric services while preserving quality of care:

• Increase training slots in California for psychiatrists, both general adult, and especially those specializing in children
• Loan forgiveness programs which will give incentives to recent graduates to locate in underserved areas
• Competitive wages and improved working conditions for psychiatrists working in public and other systems
• Remove structural impediments to utilizing psychiatrists for consulting and integrating with primary care
• Increase training slots and job opportunities for Nurse Practitioners and Physicians' Assistants specializing in psychiatry
• Increase utilization of telepsychiatry and other high technology delivery systems.

AB 1196 partially implements point 5 by allowing nurse practitioners to furnish some of the more commonly-used psychiatric medications, pursuant to a patient- specific and diagnosis-specific protocol. It could be helpful in expanding access to care, while providing for careful physician supervision.

AB 1196 passed the Assembly Committee on Business and Professions and will be heard in the Assembly Health Committee April 29.