S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
4611
2013-2014 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
April 15, 2013
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Introduced by Sens. YOUNG, AVELLA, ESPAILLAT, MONTGOMERY, RITCHIE,
ROBACH, SAVINO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to
be committed to the Committee on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to establishing the nurse
practitioners modernization act; and providing for the repeal of such
provisions upon the expiration thereof
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
the "nurse practitioners modernization act".
S 2. Subdivision 3 of section 6902 of the education law, as added by
chapter 257 of the laws of 1988, is amended to read as follows:
3. (a) (I) The practice of registered professional nursing by a nurse
practitioner, certified under section [six thousand nine] SIXTY-NINE
hundred ten of this article AND PRACTICING FOR FEWER THAN THIRTY-SIX
MONTHS AND THREE THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED HOURS, may include the diagnosis
of illness and physical conditions and the performance of therapeutic
and corrective measures within a specialty area of practice, in collab-
oration with a licensed physician qualified to collaborate in the
specialty involved, provided such services are performed in accordance
with a written practice agreement and written practice protocols. The
written practice agreement shall include explicit provisions for the
resolution of any disagreement between the collaborating physician and
the nurse practitioner regarding a matter of diagnosis or treatment that
is within the scope of practice of both. To the extent the practice
agreement does not so provide, then the collaborating physician's diag-
nosis or treatment shall prevail. IN THE EVENT THAT (A) AN EXISTING
WRITTEN PRACTICE AGREEMENT WITH A COLLABORATING PHYSICIAN TERMINATES AS
A RESULT OF THE COLLABORATING PHYSICIAN MOVING, RETIRING, NO LONGER
NEEDING THE SERVICES OF THE NURSE PRACTITIONER, NO LONGER BEING QUALI-
FIED TO PRACTICE OR UPON HIS OR HER DEATH AND THE NURSE PRACTITIONER IS
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10172-01-3
S. 4611 2
UNABLE TO ENTER INTO A NEW WRITTEN PRACTICE AGREEMENT WITH ANOTHER
COLLABORATING PHYSICIAN; OR IF (B) A NURSE PRACTITIONER OBTAINS APPROVAL
BY THE DEPARTMENT BASED ON A DEMONSTRATION TO THE DEPARTMENT THAT AN
EXISTING WRITTEN PRACTICE AGREEMENT WAS TERMINATED DUE TO NO FAULT ON
THE PART OF THE NURSE PRACTITIONER, AND THAT THE NURSE PRACTITIONER IS
UNABLE TO ENTER INTO A NEW WRITTEN PRACTICE AGREEMENT WITH ANOTHER
COLLABORATING PHYSICIAN FOLLOWING A SHOWING OF GOOD FAITH EFFORT; THEN:
SUCH NURSE PRACTITIONER MAY CONTINUE TO PRACTICE PURSUANT TO THIS PARA-
GRAPH WITHIN A SPECIALTY AREA OF PRACTICE FOR A PERIOD OF UP TO SIX
MONTHS, IN COLLABORATION WITH A NURSE PRACTITIONER WHO HAS BEEN CERTI-
FIED UNDER SECTION SIXTY-NINE HUNDRED TEN OF THIS ARTICLE, WHO HAS BEEN
PRACTICING FOR MORE THAN THIRTY-SIX MONTHS AND THREE THOUSAND SIX
HUNDRED HOURS AND WHO IS QUALIFIED TO COLLABORATE IN THE SPECIALTY
INVOLVED, PROVIDED THAT SERVICES ARE PERFORMED IN ACCORDANCE WITH A
WRITTEN PRACTICE AGREEMENT AND WRITTEN PRACTICE PROTOCOLS; SUCH SIX
MONTH TIME PERIOD FOR COLLABORATION BETWEEN NURSE PRACTITIONERS MAY BE
EXTENDED FOR A PERIOD OF TIME NOT TO EXCEED AN ADDITIONAL SIX MONTHS
UPON A SHOWING OF GOOD CAUSE SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF THE DEPARTMENT.
[(b)] (II) Prescriptions for drugs, devices and immunizing agents may
be issued by a nurse practitioner, under this [subdivision] PARAGRAPH
and section [six thousand nine] SIXTY-NINE hundred ten of this article,
in accordance with the practice agreement and practice protocols. The
nurse practitioner shall obtain a certificate from the department upon
successfully completing a program including an appropriate pharmacology
component, or its equivalent, as established by the commissioner's regu-
lations, prior to prescribing under this [subdivision] PARAGRAPH. The
certificate issued under section [six thousand nine] SIXTY-NINE hundred
ten of this article shall state whether the nurse practitioner has
successfully completed such a program or equivalent and is authorized to
prescribe under this [subdivision] PARAGRAPH.
[(c)] (III) Each practice agreement shall provide for patient records
review by the collaborating physician OR, WHERE APPLICABLE, THE COLLAB-
ORATING NURSE PRACTITIONER, in a timely fashion but in no event less
often than every three months. The names of the nurse practitioner and
the collaborating physician OR, WHERE APPLICABLE, THE COLLABORATING
NURSE PRACTITIONER shall be clearly posted in the practice setting of
the nurse practitioner.
[(d)] (IV) The practice protocol shall reflect current accepted
medical and nursing practice, OR WHERE APPLICABLE THE CURRENT ACCEPTED
NURSING PRACTICE. The protocols shall be filed with the department
within ninety days of the commencement of the practice and may be
updated periodically. The commissioner shall make regulations establish-
ing the procedure for the review of protocols and the disposition of any
issues arising from such review.
[(e)] (V) No physician OR, WHERE APPLICABLE, NURSE PRACTITIONER, shall
enter into practice agreements with more than four nurse practitioners
who are not located on the same physical premises as the collaborating
physician OR COLLABORATING NURSE PRACTITIONER.
[(f)] (B) (I) THE PRACTICE OF REGISTERED PROFESSIONAL NURSING BY A
NURSE PRACTITIONER, CERTIFIED UNDER SECTION SIXTY-NINE HUNDRED TEN OF
THIS ARTICLE AND PRACTICING FOR MORE THAN THIRTY-SIX MONTHS AND THREE
THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED HOURS, MAY INCLUDE THE DIAGNOSIS OF ILLNESS AND
PHYSICAL CONDITIONS AND THE PERFORMANCE OF THERAPEUTIC AND CORRECTIVE
MEASURES WITHIN A SPECIALTY AREA OF PRACTICE.
(II) PRESCRIPTIONS FOR DRUGS, DEVICES AND IMMUNIZING AGENTS MAY BE
ISSUED BY A NURSE PRACTITIONER, UNDER THIS PARAGRAPH AND SECTION SIXTY-
S. 4611 3
NINE HUNDRED TEN OF THIS ARTICLE. THE NURSE PRACTITIONER SHALL OBTAIN A
CERTIFICATE FROM THE DEPARTMENT UPON SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETING A PROGRAM
INCLUDING AN APPROPRIATE PHARMACOLOGY COMPONENT, OR ITS EQUIVALENT, AS
ESTABLISHED BY THE COMMISSIONER'S REGULATIONS, PRIOR TO PRESCRIBING
UNDER THIS PARAGRAPH; PROVIDED THAT ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED PURSUANT TO
SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF PARAGRAPH (A) OF THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL ALSO SATIS-
FY THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SUBPARAGRAPH. THE CERTIFICATE ISSUED UNDER
SECTION SIXTY-NINE HUNDRED TEN OF THIS ARTICLE SHALL STATE WHETHER THE
NURSE PRACTITIONER HAS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED SUCH A PROGRAM OR EQUIV-
ALENT AND IS AUTHORIZED TO PRESCRIBE UNDER THIS PARAGRAPH.
(III) A NURSE PRACTITIONER, CERTIFIED UNDER SECTION SIXTY-NINE HUNDRED
TEN OF THIS ARTICLE AND PRACTICING FOR MORE THAN THIRTY-SIX MONTHS AND
THREE THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED HOURS, SHALL HAVE COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIPS
WITH ONE OR MORE LICENSED PHYSICIANS QUALIFIED TO COLLABORATE IN THE
SPECIALTY INVOLVED OR A HOSPITAL, LICENSED UNDER ARTICLE TWENTY-EIGHT OF
THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW, THAT PROVIDES SERVICES THROUGH LICENSED PHYSI-
CIANS QUALIFIED TO COLLABORATE IN THE SPECIALTY INVOLVED AND HAVING
PRIVILEGES AT SUCH INSTITUTION BUT SHALL NOT BE REQUIRED TO HAVE A WRIT-
TEN PRACTICE AGREEMENT, PROVIDED THAT SUCH NURSE PRACTITIONER SHALL
COMPLETE AND MAINTAIN A FORM, CREATED BY THE DEPARTMENT, WHICH NURSE
PRACTITIONER SHALL ATTEST TO, THAT SUMMARIZES WRITTEN PRACTICE PROTO-
COLS, PROVIDES THE CRITERIA TO BE USED REGARDING CONSULTATION, INCLUDING
METHODS AND FREQUENCY OF HOW CONSULTATION SHALL BE PROVIDED, COLLABORA-
TIVE MANAGEMENT AND REFERRAL, AND EMERGENCY REFERRAL PLANS, TO ADDRESS
THE HEALTH STATUS AND RISK OF PATIENTS. SUCH FORMS SHALL BE UPDATED AS
NEEDED AND MAY BE SUBJECT TO REVIEW BY THE DEPARTMENT. THE NURSE PRACTI-
TIONER SHALL MAKE CURRENT INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS FORM AVAILABLE
TO HIS OR HER PATIENTS UPON REQUEST. DOCUMENTATION OF SUCH COLLABORA-
TIVE RELATIONSHIPS SHALL BE MAINTAINED BY THE NURSE PRACTITIONER AND MAY
BE SUBJECT TO REVIEW BY THE DEPARTMENT. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE
REQUIREMENTS FOUND IN THIS SUBPARAGRAPH SHALL BE SUBJECT TO PROFESSIONAL
MISCONDUCT PROVISIONS AS SET FORTH IN ARTICLE ONE HUNDRED THIRTY OF THIS
TITLE.
(C) Nothing in this subdivision shall be deemed to limit or diminish
the practice of the profession of nursing as a registered professional
nurse under this article or any other law, rule, regulation or certif-
ication, nor to deny any registered professional nurse the right to do
any act or engage in any practice authorized by this article or any
other law, rule, regulation or certification.
[(g)] (D) The provisions of this subdivision shall not apply to any
activity authorized, pursuant to statute, rule or regulation, to be
performed by a registered professional nurse in a hospital as defined in
article twenty-eight of the public health law.
(E) THE COMMISSIONER, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH,
SHALL ISSUE A REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROVISIONS OF THIS
SECTION ALONG WITH INFORMATION THAT INCLUDES, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO: THE
NUMBER OF NURSE PRACTITIONERS PRACTICING FOR FEWER THAN THIRTY-SIX
MONTHS AND THREE THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED HOURS THAT PRACTICE PURSUANT TO A
COLLABORATIVE AGREEMENT WITH A PHYSICIAN; THE NUMBER OF NURSE PRACTI-
TIONERS PRACTICING FOR FEWER THAN THIRTY-SIX MONTHS AND THREE THOUSAND
SIX HUNDRED HOURS THAT PRACTICE PURSUANT TO A COLLABORATIVE AGREEMENT
WITH A NURSE PRACTITIONER FOR SIX MONTHS AND THE NUMBER OF THESE NURSE
PRACTITIONERS THAT EXTEND A COLLABORATIVE AGREEMENT FOR AN ADDITIONAL
SIX MONTHS UPON A SHOWING OF GOOD CAUSE SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF THE
DEPARTMENT; THE NUMBER OF NURSE PRACTITIONERS PRACTICING FOR MORE THAN
THIRTY-SIX MONTHS AND THREE THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED HOURS THAT PRACTICE
S. 4611 4
PURSUANT TO COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH PHYSICIANS; OTHER INFORMA-
TION THE DEPARTMENT DEEMS RELEVANT, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE CONTINUATION OR AMENDMENTS TO THE PROVISIONS OF
THIS SECTION RELATING TO COLLABORATIVE AGREEMENTS OR COLLABORATIVE
RELATIONSHIPS. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL SUBMIT THIS REPORT TO THE GOVER-
NOR, THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE,
AND THE CHAIRS OF THE ASSEMBLY AND SENATE HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEES BY
SEPTEMBER FIRST, TWO THOUSAND SEVENTEEN.
S 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
it shall have become a law and shall expire June 30, 2019 when upon such
date the provisions of this act shall be deemed repealed; provided,
however, that effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or
repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of
this act on its effective date is authorized and directed to be made and
completed on or before such effective date.