2020 -- H 7072

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LC002983

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2020

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS - NURSES

     Introduced By: Representatives Casimiro, McEntee, Williams, McNamara, and Alzate

     Date Introduced: January 10, 2020

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 5-34-49 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-34 entitled "Nurses" is

hereby amended to read as follows:

     5-34-49. Prescriptive authority.

     (a) The board of nursing shall grant prescribing, ordering, dispensing, and furnishing

authority.

     (b) An APRN licensed by the board of nursing may prescribe, order, procure, administer,

dispense, and furnish over-the-counter, legend, and controlled substances pursuant to applicable

state and federal laws, when the APRN has completed an educational program as described in this

chapter that includes courses in pathophysiology, pharmacology, and physical assessment and is

within the APRN's role and population focus.

     (c) Prescribing, ordering, dispensing, and furnishing shall include the authority to:

     (1) Diagnose, prescribe, and institute therapy or referrals of patients to healthcare

agencies, healthcare providers, and community resources;

     (2) Prescribe, procure, administer, dispense, and furnish pharmacological agents,

including over-the-counter, legend, and controlled substances; and

     (3) Plan and initiate a therapeutic regimen that includes ordering and prescribing non-

pharmacological interventions, including, but not limited to, durable medical equipment, medical

devices, nutrition, blood and blood products, and diagnostic and supportive services including,

but not limited to, home health care, hospice, and physical and occupational therapy.

     (d) Prescriptive privileges for the certified nurse practitioner shall include all the

authority under the APRN license including:

     (1) Prescription of legend medications and prescription of controlled substances from

Schedules II, III, IV, and V that are established in regulation; and

     (2) May be certified to prescribe controlled substances from Schedule I; provided,

however, that certified nurse practitioners shall be allowed the privilege of prescribing medical

marijuana, a Schedule I substance, in the normal course of their practice.

     (e) Prescriptive privileges for APRNs with the population focus of psychiatric/mental

health:

     (1) Shall include prescription of certain psychotropic and certain legend medications,

controlled substances from Schedule II classified as stimulants, and controlled substances from

Schedule III and IV that are prescribed in regulations;

     (2) Shall not include controlled substances from Schedules I, II, and V and those certain

legend medications not included in subsection (e)(1).

     (f) CRNAs may be granted prescriptive privileges in accordance with the provisions of

chapter 34.2 of this title.

     (g) Prescriptive privileges for certified clinical nurse specialist shall include:

     (1) Diagnosing, prescribing, and instituting therapy or referrals of patients to healthcare

agencies, healthcare providers, and community resources; and

     (2) Planning and initiating a therapeutic regimen that includes ordering and prescribing

non-pharmacological interventions, including, but not limited to, durable medical equipment,

medical devices, nutrition, blood and blood products, and diagnostic and supportive services

including, but not limited to, home health care, hospice, and physical and occupational therapy;

and

     (3) Prescription of over-the-counter medications within their population foci.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS - NURSES

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     This act would allow certified nurse practitioners (CNPs) to prescribe medical marijuana

to patients in the normal course of their practice.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC002983

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