ACNM Policy Update - 1/26/2015

 

Kansas S.69/H.2122 proposes to remove the requirement for a written protocol agreement, among other things. The bill includes a requirement for a transition to practice period of 2,000 for all initial APRN applicants or those who have under 2,000 hours of active licensure in their role. The transition requirements may be fulfilled by collaborating with either a physician or an APRN.

Arkansas H.1136 clarifies that APRN prescriptive authority only extends to Schedules III - V with the exception of recently reclassified hydrocodone combination products if authorized by the collaborative practice agreement.

Maryland S.74 proposes to establish a Task Force to Study Maternal Mental Health. The task force shall identify vulnerable populations and risk factors for maternal mental health disorders that may occur during pregnancy and through the first postpartum year and identify successful postpartum mental health initiatives in other states and recommend programs, tools, strategies, and funding sources that are needed to implement similar initiatives in the state, among other things.

Mississippi H.757 proposes the Breastfeeding Bill of Rights. Specific components of the Bill include:  the right to breastfeed in any place, public or private, where the mother is otherwise authorized to be; the  right to breastfeed freely without covering breasts (not indecent exposure); protection from employer discrimination if women choose to use break time to pump or nurse; the right to breastfeed baby within first hour after birth; the right to request that babies not receive formula or pacifiers unless medically necessary; and the right to request that babies be brought to the mother at any time, day or night, for feeding during the hospital stay.

Mississippi H.893 proposes to remove the requirement that APRNs must have a collaborative requirement with physicians.

Missouri H.633 proposes additional components to the required collaborative practice arrangement. Specifically, the bill states that if an APRN utilizes a collaborative practice arrangement to diagnose or initiate treatment of an acutely or chronically ill or injured patient, the collaborating physician shall be available either in person or electronically for consultation. APRNs must provide a written or electronic report of such patient encounters within 14 days to the patient's primary health care provider. If the client does not have one, the APRN must supply the patient with a list of primary care physicians in the area that are accepting new patients.

New Mexico H.84/S.176 would allow for licensure of birth centers that are accredited by CABC or its successor.

New Mexico S.116 proposes to establish a statewide perinatal collaborative. The aims of the group would include standardizing the use of evidence-based practice, achieving measurable improvements in health outcomes for women and newborns, reducing unintended pregnancies, reducing preterm births and improving outcomes of preterm births, and promoting effective quality-improving and cost-saving best practices to providers, among other things.

Oklahoma H.2158 would allow APRNs to prescribe Schedule II controlled substances. Oklahoma S.727 is a similar bill that extends Schedule II authority to NPs only.

Washington H.1339 would allow the Secretary of Health to intercede and stay any decision by a disciplinary (regulatory) board that is determined to expand scope of practice via rule making, interpretive statement, policy statement, declarative order, practice guideline, decision in a formal disciplinary action, or other declaration. 


Federal Issues

1.  ACOG/SMFM Release Consensus Care Statement on Levels of Maternal Care

On January 22, ACOG and SMFM released a joint Consensus Statement on Levels of Maternal Care.  The document establishes a proposed classification system for levels of maternal care that pertains to birth centers, basic care (level I), specialty care (level II), subspecialty care (level III), and regional perinatal health care centers (level IV).  The document explicitly says it does not intend to address home birth.  The goal of regionalized maternal care is for pregnant women at high risk to receive care in facilities that are prepared to provide the required level of specialized care, thereby reducing maternal morbidity and mortality in the United States.

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Should you have questions about state issues, please contact Cara Kinzelman, ACNM's Manager of State Government Affairs at [email protected] or 240-485-1841.  

If you have questions regarding federal issues, please contact Jesse Bushman, ACNM's Director of Advocacy and Government Affairs at [email protected] or 240-485-1843.