Senate panel approves APRNs prescriptive authority bill

By LRC Public Information

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Jan. 16, 2014) — A bill that would allow some Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) to independently prescribe non-scheduled medicines passed the Senate Licensing, Occupations and Administrative Regulations Committee on Tuesday.

Senate Bill 7, sponsored by Sen. Paul Hornback, R-Shelbyville, and Committee Chair John Schickel, R-Union, would create a “Collaborative Agreement for APRN Prescriptive Authority for Non-Scheduled Drugs” (CAPA-NS) process between APRNs and collaborating physicians.  Under the measure, APRNs who have practiced for at least four years would be allowed to prescribe non-narcotic routine medication without the CAPA-NS form.

According to Hornback, the measure will benefit medically-underserved portions of the state.  “I think [the bill] will be the best thing for access to healthcare, for availability, for cost, for making sure we take care of our citizens here in Kentucky,” he said.

Other provisions in the bill would establish a six-member joint advisory committee for the CAPA-NS process.  The committee could make recommendations to nursing and medical boards and assist APRNs in finding collaborating physicians to complete the CAPA-NS.

The measure now goes to the full Senate for consideration.