Bill > SB915

This bill relates to the licensing and authority of advanced practice registered nurses. The key provisions include: - Defining advanced practice registered nurses and their scope of practice, including their ability to order, perform, and interpret diagnostic tests, formulate diagnoses, treat health problems, prescribe drugs and devices, and serve as primary care providers. - Authorizing the Texas Board of Nursing to establish rules for licensing advanced practice registered nurses and approving their authority to prescribe and order drugs and devices, including controlled substances. - Making conforming changes to various laws to recognize the authority of advanced practice registered nurses, such as allowing them to order durable medical equipment and supplies under the medical assistance program and have their services covered by health insurance. - Repealing provisions related to the delegation of prescriptive authority to advanced practice registered nurses by physicians. The bill requires the Texas Board of Nursing to adopt the necessary rules by February 1, 2022, and allows advanced practice registered nurses previously delegated prescriptive authority to continue exercising that authority until that date.