Brief Description: Repealing RCW 18.79.255.

Sponsors: Senators Keiser, Kastama, Franklin, Pflug and Kohl-Welles.

Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care
House Committee on Health Care & Wellness

Background: Advanced registered nurse practitioners (ARNPs) are registered nurses with additional formal specialized training in areas such as pediatrics, midwifery, geriatrics anesthesiology, and psychiatry. ARNPs function more independently than registered nurses and assume primary responsibility and accountability for care of their patients.

Current law permits ARNPs to prescribe legend drugs and Schedule V controlled substances. ARNPs may prescribe Schedule II-IV controlled substances subject to their scope of practice. ARNPs may dispense a maximum of a 72-hour supply of Schedule II-IV controlled substances.

Summary: The limitation on ARNPs dispensing a maximum of a 72-hour supply of a Schedule II-IV controlled substance is eliminated.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate      44   2
House      95   1

Effective: June 12, 2008