*UPDATE:

Again, this legislative session, SB 25 has been introduced which would give

Independent Practice to Certified Registered Nurse Practitioners. This measure

has received committee action the past several years but has yet to be passed by the

full Senate. However, Governor Shapiro, in his budget address, mentioned his support for this legislation. This endorsement should add further impetus to move this bill further through the legislative process. It is certainly a bill that needs to be monitored

closely.

A scope of practice measure that continues to be of interest to the physician community is SB25.  This legislation is known as the Rural Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner Health Care Access Program.  If passed into law, this program could be implemented in the 49 (our of 66) counties of the Commonwealth that are deemed rural.

This bill will allow an eligible rural Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner to practice as an independent primary healthcare practitioner without a written or collaborative agreement with a physician.  The bill requires a CRNP to comply with the requirements of law and standard of advanced nursing care and recognize limitations in knowledge and experience. A CRNP must wear a name identification badge showing the professional title and must inform patients of the title before or during the initial patient encounter. Any signage or advertisements must contain a CRNP’s professional title. A CRNP is required to plan for the management of situations beyond a CRNP’s expertise and consult with and refer patients to other health care providers as appropriate. Senate Bill 25 excludes a collaborating physician from having any legal responsibility for acts or omissions of a CRNP while practicing under the program when there is a written or collaborative agreement with the physician outside of the program. The bill specifically prohibits a CRNP from practicing under the Medical Practice Act of 1985 or the Osteopathic Medical Practice Act through the program. No physician-patient relationship is established when a CRNP consults with a physician or seeks clinical information or guidance.

SB25 has been reported out of the Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee as well as the Senate Appropriations Committee.  It currently is on the legislative calendar for full Senate consideration this fall.