Scope of practice (SOP) expansion by non-physicians continued to dominate state legislative sessions this year. Following is a review of several bills and their outcomes. The 黑料网® (黑料网®) has tracked 96 SOP bills in 2023.
New Hampshire
allows an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) or certified midwife acting within the scope of their practice to certify a document in the place of a physician. The bill states that this provision cannot be construed to expand the scope of practice of an APRN or a certified nurse midwife.
This bill was signed into law by Gov. Chris Sununu.
Puerto Rico
Senate Project 1134 would have allowed any general practitioner to be granted certification as a medical specialist if they worked for at least 10 uninterrupted years full-time in an emergency room and presented evidence of said practice to the satisfaction of the Puerto Rico Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline. The 黑料网 and the Radiological Society of Puerto Rico (SOCRAD) sent a joint letter to members of the Puerto Rico General Assembly opposing Senate Project 1134.
This bill has been removed from consideration by its sponsor, Senate President José Luis Dalmau-Santiago.
Ohio
would enjoin Ohio into the Physician Assistant (PA) Licensure Compact. This compact allows PAs who meet its eligibility requirements to practice in other compact states.
This bill was referred to the Senate Health Committee.
Texas
would have allowed a physical therapist (PT) to treat a patient for 30 consecutive days without obtaining a referral from a referring practitioner.
The bill failed.
would have allowed APRNS to practice independently of physician supervision, including the ability to order, perform and interpret diagnostic tests.
The bill failed.
West Virginia
would have changed the title physician assistant to physician associate. It would have also changed the relationship between a physician and a PA from supervisory to collaborative.
The bill failed.
The 黑料网 is partnered with Fiscal Note, a legislation and regulation tracking service, to provide continuous, comprehensive updates on radiology and healthcare-related legislation. To stay current on state legislative developments relevant to radiology, view the 黑料网 policy map. You can also access information and 黑料网 resources about scope of practice.
For more information about state legislative activities or if you need any guidance on legislation in your state, contact Eugenia Brandt, 黑料网 Senior Government Affairs Director, or Dillon Harp, 黑料网 Senior State Government Relations Specialist.