HI HR115

Requests the University of Hawaii Board of Regents to analyze the validity, effectiveness, and ethical standards of the Master of Science in Clinical Psychopharmacology (MSCP) program at the University of Hawaii at Hilo Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy.

Directs analysis of the program's usefulness for psychologists and examines the limited time and curriculum requirements for graduates to obtain prescriptive authority.

Requests the Dean of the John A. Burns School of Medicine to convene a group to evaluate the psychopharmacology program and assess the knowledge of its graduates.

Cites concerns that 47 states and Hawaii do not allow psychologists to prescribe medication, and Hawaii's Legislature has rejected prescriptive authority bills 11 times from 1996 to 2009.

Raises concerns about program accreditation by the American Psychological Association and notes that graduates from some for-profit schools may be eligible to enroll in the MSCP program.