Bill > S1257

This bill aims to contain health care costs and improve access to value-based nurse practitioner care as recommended by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The key provisions of the bill include: 1. Defining "Medication Order" as an order entered on a patient's medical record for immediate administration at a registered health facility. 2. Recognizing nurse practitioners as "Practitioners" under the Controlled Substances Act, allowing them to distribute, dispense, and use controlled substances in their practice. 3. Removing restrictions on nurse practitioners and including them in provisions related to the registration and authorization of practitioners to handle controlled substances. 4. Requiring the Board of Registration in Nursing to promulgate regulations independent of the Board of Registration in Medicine to govern the provision of nurse practitioner services, including the ordering and interpreting of tests, ordering and evaluation of treatment and therapeutics, and any registration as a practitioner under the Controlled Substances Act. 5. Allowing nurse practitioners to be considered qualified primary care providers under health insurance plans. The overall aim of the bill is to expand the scope of practice and authority for nurse practitioners, with the goal of improving access to cost-effective, value-based healthcare services.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/190/S1257