Bill > H4355

This bill aims to improve access to care by removing barriers to practice for psychiatric clinical nurse specialists. The key provisions of the bill are: 1. It amends state law to remove the requirement that psychiatric nurse mental health clinical specialists be supervised by a physician or nurse practitioner with independent practice authority when ordering tests, therapeutics, and prescribing medications. Instead, after two years of supervision, these nurses will be able to practice independently, subject to regulations promulgated by the state's nursing board. 2. It directs the state's Commissioner of Public Health to promulgate regulations to allow for the registration of psychiatric nurse mental health clinical specialists to issue written prescriptions, after consulting with the state's nursing board on the appropriate controlled substance schedules. The bill seeks to expand the scope of practice and autonomy of psychiatric clinical nurse specialists in order to improve patient access to mental health services.

Health and Social Services

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/190/H4355