TITLE 16 OCCUPATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSING

CHAPTER 22 PSYCHOLOGISTS AND PSYCHOLOGIST ASSOCIATES

PART 20 CONDITIONAL PRESCRIPTION CERTIFICATE; PRESCRIPTION CERTIFICATE:

HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONER COLLABORATION GUIDELINES

16.22.20.1 ISSUING AGENCY: Regulation and Licensing Department Board of Psychologist Examiners.

[16.22.20.1 NMAC - Rp, 16.22.20.1 NMAC, 11/15/2006]

16.22.20.2 SCOPE: This part applies to psychologists with conditional prescription certificate, and the general public.

[16.22.20.2 NMAC - Rp, 16.22.20.2 NMAC, 11/15/2006]

16.22.20.3 STATUTORY AUTHORITY: This part is adopted pursuant to the Professional Psychologist Act, Section 61-9-17.2 NMSA 1978

[16.22.20.3 NMAC - Rp, 16.22.20.3 NMAC, 11/15/2006]

16.22.20.4 DURATION: Permanent.

[16.22.20.4 NMAC - Rp, 16.22.20.4 NMAC, 11/15/2006]

16.22.20.5 EFFECTIVE DATE: November 15, 2006, unless a later date is cited at the end of the section.

[16.22.20.5 NMAC - Rp, 16.22.20.5 NMAC, 11/15/2006]

16.22.20.6 OBJECTIVE: The objective of Part 20 is to set forth the provisions, which apply to all of Chapter 22, and all persons affected or regulated by Chapter 22 of Title 16.

[16.22.20.6 NMAC - Rp, 16.22.20.6 NMAC, 11/15/2006]

16.22.20.7 DEFINITIONS: [RESERVED]

[Refer to 16.22.1.7 NMAC]

16.22.20.8 CONDITIONAL PRESCRIPTION CERTIFICATE OR PRESCRIPTION CERTIFICATE HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONER COLLABORATION GUIDELINES:

A. A conditional prescribing or prescribing psychologist shall obtain a release of information from the patient or the patient’s legal guardian authorizing the psychologist to contact the patient’s primary treating health care practitioner, as required by law.

B. If a patient or the patient’s legal guardian refuses to sign a release of information for the patient’s primary treating health care practitioner, the conditional prescribing or prescribing psychologist shall inform the patient or the patient’s legal guardian that the psychologist cannot treat the patient pharmacologically without an ongoing collaborative relationship with the primary treating health care practitioner. The psychologist shall refer the patient to another mental health care provider who is not required to maintain an ongoing collaborative relationship with a health care practitioner.

C. A conditional prescribing or prescribing psychologist must provide written notice to the primary treating health care practitioner within 24 hours of issuance of a prescription to the patient.

If a conditional prescribing psychologist or prescribing psychologist is working in a declared emergency/disaster area, the on-site medical staff can serve as the evaluating primary care physician.

D. If a patient does not have a primary treating health care practitioner, the conditional prescribing or prescribing psychologist shall refer the patient to a health care practitioner prior to psychopharmacological treatment. The psychologist must receive the results of the health care practitioner’s assessment and shall contact the health care practitioner as required herein prior to prescribing.

E. Once the collaborative relationship is established with the primary treating health care practitioner, the conditional prescribing or prescribing psychologist shall maintain and document the collaborative relationship to ensure that relevant information is exchanged accurately and in a timely manner. The ongoing collaborative relationship shall be maintained pursuant to the following guidelines.

(1) A conditional prescribing or prescribing psychologist shall notify the primary treating health care practitioner if and when the patient experiences adverse effects from medications prescribed by the psychologist that may be related to the patient’s medical condition for which he or she is being treated by a health care practitioner.

(2) A conditional prescribing or prescribing psychologist shall notify the primary treating health care practitioner regarding results of laboratory tests related to the medical care of the patient that have been ordered by the psychologist in conjunction with psychopharmacological treatment.

(3) A conditional prescribing or prescribing psychologist shall notify a treating health care practitioner as soon as possible of any change in the patient’s psychological condition that may affect the medical treatment being provided by the health care practitioner.

[16.22.20.8 NMAC - Rp, 16.22.20.8 NMAC, 11/15/2006; A, 02/10/2022]

HISTORY OF 16.22.20 NMAC:

History of Repealed Material:

16.22.20 NMAC, Health Care Practitioner Collaboration Guidelines - Repealed 11/15/2006