New law in Kansas permits APRNs to prescribe meds in effort to address physician shortage - Wichita Business Journal - The Business Journals
A bipartisan bill signed into law last week will allow advanced practice registered nurses (APRN) in Kansas to practice more independently and prescribe medication without a supervising physician.
Kansas is now the 26th state to pass similar legislation, which aims to address limited access to health care, particularly in rural areas of the state.
"This bill will increase access to care for all Kansans, many of whom rely on safe and expert APRN care today," said Amy Siple, a practicing APRN in Wichita, and president of the Kansas Advanced Practice Nurses Association. "We applaud Gov. Kelly and the Kansas Legislature for taking this step towards greater access, quality outcomes, and reduced regulatory barriers."
The bill, introduced in the 2021 legislative session on behalf of the American Physical Therapy Association, amended provisions in the Kansas Nurse Practice Act that governs the licensure of APRNs — the highest level of clinical nursing. More specifically, the legislation removed language that permits APRNs from prescribing drugs under the oversight of a physician.
The law instead allows an APRN to prescribe durable medical equipment and prescribe, procure and administer any drug consistent with the nurse's specific role and population focus.
Under the new legislation, APRNs are required to maintain malpractice insurance and a national certification from an organization recognized by the state's Board of Nursing. It also requires that APRNs comply with federal Drug Enforcement Administration requirements related to the prescription of controlled substances.
Expanding the scope of practice for APRNs is designed to address Kansas's physician shortage. The U.S. could be short 37,800 to 124,000 physicians by 2034, according to a 2021 report from the Association of American Medical Colleges, which could lead to shortfalls in primary and specialty care.
"Kansas, like so many other states, is experiencing a health-care shortage – especially in rural parts of the state," Kelly said in a news release. "This will improve the availability of high-quality health care by empowering APRNs to reduce local and regional care gaps."
source: https://www.bizjournals.com/wichita/news/2022/04/18/aprn-practice-kansas-law-bill-prescribe.html
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