State Society Developing Action Plan on Scope of Practice Regulations
The Pennsylvania Medical Society has several serious concerns regarding proposed regulations expanding the scope of practice of certified registered nurse practitioners (CRNPs).
The regulations are now going through an internal review process with the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs. Working with several specialties, the Society is developing a comprehensive action plan, which includes both grassroots action and comments on the regulations.
Physician responses to the proposed regulations will be critical at several points throughout the regulatory process, which is now in its beginning phase and may take as long as two years. Scenarios that highlight the impact on specific specialties would be particularly useful.
The Society is seriously concerned about the impact expanded scope of practice could have on patient safety and patient care issues. Among the Society’s concerns are:
- Lack of essential elements for collaboration, as required by law
- Lack of restrictions on prescribing of controlled substances
- Broadly defined tasks that are beyond CRNP education or training or are otherwise restricted by law
- Removal of notification and identification requirements necessary for patients to make informed choices regarding their health care providers
Act 48 of 2007, signed in July, makes relatively modest changes in the scope of practice of CRNPs, maintains the collaborative agreement between physicians and nurse practitioners, and does not authorize independent practice models.
The law is the result of a compromise between the State Society and the CRNPs, after weeks of intense negotiations. The proposed regulations were announced by the State Board of Nursing in the midst of the negotiations.
Last Updated: 10/5/2007