Although he humbly accepted an APA award recognizing his efforts to prevent a psychologist scope-of-practice expansion in the Virgin Islands, Ilias Nigamatov, M.D., did not celebrate.
“I don't want other psychiatrists to think that they don't need to stand up for the profession,” he said. “I did what anyone would and should do.”
Nigamatov earned the award, named the APA Special Advocacy Award, for organizing opposition to psychologist-prescribing legislation (26-0318) in the U.S. territory, a bill that was introduced without advanced notice. The entire“ legislative fight” lasted less than six weeks, said Nicholas Meyers, director of APA's Department of Government Relations.
“In that very short period of time, he turned himself into the best kind of advocate APA can have,” Meyers said, about Nigamatov's efforts, which included his role as an outspoken local opponent of the measure to the media and legislators.
The Senate Health, Hospitals, and Human Services Committee of the Virgin Islands' unicameral legislature held a hearing on a measure that would allow psychologists who receive specialized training to prescribe psychoactive medications, but the committee did not vote because it lacked a quorum (Psychiatric News, December 15, 2006). APA continues to be vigilant for movement that could signal the bill's expected reintroduction.
Nigamatov alerted APA after discovering the legislation, and the Association's support included sending Annelle Primm, M.D., director of APA's Office of Minority and National Affairs, to testify against the measure. She called on legislators to reject the bill, in part because the prescribing proposal lacks any physician involvement or oversight. The bill would have allowed psychologists to write prescriptions for medications after they complete courses that meet training requirements set by the territory's Board of Psychology, not by the Board of Medicine.
The bill was the first such measure considered in the Virgin Islands.
Although the Virgin Islands lacks an APA district branch, the legislation was strongly opposed by the territory's other psychiatrists as well. Also joining the fight against the bill were representatives of Virgin Islands hospitals, the Virgin Islands Medical Society, and the Virgin Islands Alliance for the Mentally Ill.
Psycholog ist-prescribing legislation has been approved in three ot her U.S. jurisdictions—New Mexico, Louisiana, and Guam.
Nigamatov received the Special Advocac y Award in Washington, D.C., during the Association's 2007 Advocacy Day events. But he wasn't dwelling on past accomplishments. When asked about his plans he told Psychiatric News he was going to meet with his delegate in Congress to push for legislation mandating mental health parity insurance coverage. ▪
