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The Tennessee Conservative [By Paula Gomes] –
A bill that would allow psychologists to prescribe psychotropic drugs was taken off notice in the House Health Subcommittee on Wednesday.
House Bill 2315 (HB2315) was opposed by the Tennessee Chapter of the Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) who say that the legislation posed “a serious patient safety risk.”
Current Tennessee law allows only physicians, psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants to prescribe these drugs.
While the bill required additional pharmacology training, according to CCHR, such training would have been far less than a medical degree, a pharmacy degree, or a psychiatric residency.
As prescribing psychotropic medications is complex, it carries real risk for patients. CCHR called the gap in medical preparation for psychologists compared to those already legally allowed to prescribe “substantial.”
The risk would be greatest for vulnerable populations such as the elderly, and children. According to CCHR, 11,453 children aged 0 to 5 are already being prescribed these medications.
The bill would have potentially made more babies and toddlers the testing ground for a new class of prescriber with less medical training than any existing prescriber of psychiatric drugs.
The Senate Version of the bill (SB2570) is still on the Senate Health and Welfare Committee calendar for 4/1/2026.
Senate Health and Welfare Committee – SB2570 scheduled to be heard April 1.
SB2570 creates prescribing authority for certain psychologists if certain conditions and prerequisites are met.
Sen.rusty.crowe@capitol.tn.gov; sen.ferrell.haile@capitol.tn.gov; sen.bobby.harshbarger@capitol.tn.gov; sen.joey.hensley@capitol.tn.gov; sen.ed.jackson@capitol.tn.gov; sen.becky.massey@capitol.tn.gov; sen.shane.reeves@capitol.tn.gov; sen.bo.watson@capitol.tn.gov; sen.jeff.yarbro@capitol.tn.gov
About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
