Lobbying Succeeds in Blocking Psychologist Prescription Program

OPEN MINDS The Behavioral Health & Social Service Industry Analyst Industry News The lobbying and letter-writing efforts of the members of the American Psychiatric Association (APA) appear to have succeeded in temporarily blocking the implementation of a planned Department of Defense (DOD) program to train Army psychologists to prescribe psychotropic medication. A June 28, 1990 memorandum from Enrique Mednez, M.D., Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, directed the Army to begin the training program on September 1. However, House and Senate members agreed to prohibit DOD from going forward unless the program complies with the recommendations of . . .