Bill > S0676

This bill, known as "The Barbara Lumpkin Prescribing Act," expands the categories of healthcare professionals who can prescribe brand-name drugs when medically necessary, allowing advanced registered nurse practitioners (ARNP) and physician assistants (PA) to be included alongside physicians. It also mandates that hospitals provide at least 90 days' advance notice to obstetrical physicians before closing their obstetrics department or ceasing services, and requires the Board of Nursing to establish a committee to recommend a list of controlled substances that ARNPs may not prescribe or can only prescribe under limited circumstances. Furthermore, the bill standardizes prior authorization forms for health insurers, requiring them to use a form approved by the Financial Services Commission in consultation with the Agency for Health Care Administration, and clarifies rules regarding physician assistant prescribing, including specific continuing education requirements for controlled substances. It also addresses the prescribing of controlled substances by ARNPs and physician assistants in various contexts, including probation conditions and the definition of a "practitioner" for controlled substance regulations, and makes changes to how health insurers can retroactively deny claims.