- Joined
- Dec 20, 2002
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Interesting to see how the Louisiana bill was passed throught the legislature. Most shocking "disappointing" was the family practice doctor's involvement.
Here's the article link
Below is a portion of the article.
"The original psychologist-prescribing bill was introduced on April 7, sponsored by Louisiana House Speaker Joe Salter (D). An identical bill was introduced on April 13 by Senate President Donald Hines, M.D. (D), who maintains a family practice while the legislature is not in session. With little discussion or debate and only minor amendments, the bill was passed by the House on April 19 by a vote of 62-31.
The next day the Senate received the House bill, and declaring it to be a duplicate of the Senate version, Hines deftly moved the House bill through the Senate chamber. On April 21 Hines used procedural privileges as Senate president to suspend the normal rules for considering legislation in an orderly manner.
When the president pro tempore, Diana Bajoie (D), attempted to offer an amendment that would have prohibited psychologists from prescribing to children, Hines dismissed the effort. He noted that as a physician himself, he could write prescriptions for children for the very medications in question, and he wasn?t required to have a master?s degree in psychopharmacology.
Hines called for a vote, and the measure passed the Senate by a vote of 21-16. In the end, only minor editorial changes and clarifying amendments were passed.
The bill went back to the House immediately, and, again with the rules suspended, representatives voted on it without any conference committee consideration. The House passed the bill by a vote of 68-30.
The final bill was signed by Salter on Thursday, April 22, and by Hines on the following Monday, April 26, starting a 10-day countdown for the governor?s action. In Louisiana the governor may sign passed legislation, veto it, or allow it to go into law without a signature.
Lobbyists for the state medical society and LPMA were so dismayed that they left the legislative chambers silently, shaking their heads. "
I love the part- if I can do it, so can anyone else mentality. perhaps he forgot the part where learning how to prescribe comes from going to medical school and residency training!?!
Here's the article link
Below is a portion of the article.
"The original psychologist-prescribing bill was introduced on April 7, sponsored by Louisiana House Speaker Joe Salter (D). An identical bill was introduced on April 13 by Senate President Donald Hines, M.D. (D), who maintains a family practice while the legislature is not in session. With little discussion or debate and only minor amendments, the bill was passed by the House on April 19 by a vote of 62-31.
The next day the Senate received the House bill, and declaring it to be a duplicate of the Senate version, Hines deftly moved the House bill through the Senate chamber. On April 21 Hines used procedural privileges as Senate president to suspend the normal rules for considering legislation in an orderly manner.
When the president pro tempore, Diana Bajoie (D), attempted to offer an amendment that would have prohibited psychologists from prescribing to children, Hines dismissed the effort. He noted that as a physician himself, he could write prescriptions for children for the very medications in question, and he wasn?t required to have a master?s degree in psychopharmacology.
Hines called for a vote, and the measure passed the Senate by a vote of 21-16. In the end, only minor editorial changes and clarifying amendments were passed.
The bill went back to the House immediately, and, again with the rules suspended, representatives voted on it without any conference committee consideration. The House passed the bill by a vote of 68-30.
The final bill was signed by Salter on Thursday, April 22, and by Hines on the following Monday, April 26, starting a 10-day countdown for the governor?s action. In Louisiana the governor may sign passed legislation, veto it, or allow it to go into law without a signature.
Lobbyists for the state medical society and LPMA were so dismayed that they left the legislative chambers silently, shaking their heads. "
I love the part- if I can do it, so can anyone else mentality. perhaps he forgot the part where learning how to prescribe comes from going to medical school and residency training!?!