Bill > H4535

This bill aims to remove barriers for nurse practitioners and psychiatric nurse mental health clinical specialists to provide psychiatric care. The key provisions of the bill include: 1. Defining nurse practitioners and psychiatric nurse mental health clinical specialists as "practitioners" under the state's controlled substances act, allowing them to prescribe and dispense controlled substances. 2. Expanding the authority of nurse practitioners and psychiatric nurse mental health clinical specialists to order tests, therapeutics, and prescribe medications, either independently or in collaboration with a supervising nurse practitioner, psychiatric nurse, or physician. 3. Establishing that nurse practitioners and psychiatric nurse mental health clinical specialists can have independent practice authority to prescribe after completing 2 years of supervised practice or demonstrating alternative professional experience. 4. Requiring the state board to promulgate regulations to implement these changes and govern the provision of advanced practice nursing services. Overall, the bill seeks to expand the scope of practice for certain advanced practice nurses in order to improve access to psychiatric care.

Health and Social Services

Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery (Joint)

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/H4535