SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5796

As of February 16, 2001

Title:  An act relating to prescriptive authority for advanced registered nurse practitioners.

Brief Description:  Revising prescriptive authority for advanced registered nurse practitioners.

Sponsors:  Senators Deccio, Thibaudeau, Fairley, Costa and Prentice.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Health & Long‑Term Care:  2/19/01.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG‑TERM CARE

Staff:  Rhoda Donkin (786‑7198)

Background:  Advanced registered nurse practitioners (ARNP) are registered nurses with formal specialized training which qualifies them to function more independently than a registered nurse in a variety of health care settings.  ARNPs may have specialities in such areas as pediatrics, geriatrics, midwifery, anesthesiology, or neonatology.  They must maintain a current certification in their specialized field in order to practice independently.

ARNPs have had authority to prescribe legend drugs, and controlled substances contained in Schedule V of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act, Chapter 69.50 RCW for years.  In 2000 legislation was passed expanding the prescriptive authority for ARNPs to include schedules II through IV drugs of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act. ARNPs were given this expansion  to order or prescribe these drugs under joint practice arrangements and collaboration with a physician or osteopathic physician.

Since the legislation was passed, the Medical Quality Assurance Commission, the Board of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery and the Nursing Quality Assurance Commission were supposed to be working out rules for the implementation of that legislation.

Summary of Bill:  All ARNPs  may prescribe controlled substances contained in Schedules II through V of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act without entering into joint practice arrangements and without formal collaboration with physicians or osteopathic physicians.  The requirement that three commissions write rules for implementing these arrangements is eliminated.

Certified registered nurse anesthetists may select, order, and administer Schedules II through IV of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act without current restrictions in law, including facility protocols and requests from licensed physicians.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.