A new bill introduced in Georgia would allow advanced practice nurses to prescribe without the need for a written plan. The bill, House Bill 213 (HB 213), is sponsored by a number of representatives, with the primary sponsor being Representative Mary Robichaux. The bill has had its first reading and has initially been assignment to the Health and Human Services Committee for further deliberation.
HB 213 would bring a large and direct change to Georgia’s current advance practice registered nurse (APRN) practice laws. Currently, APRNs in Georgia require a written protocol with a physician to practice and have prescriptive authority. Under HB 213, once the nurse becomes licensed as an APRN, they are granted prescriptive authority and a defined scope of practice. This scope of practice includes:
With these changes, the APRN is no longer required to maintain a protocol relationship with a physician. The national trend has been to allow APRNs to practice and prescribe without needing the supervision or oversight of physician; HB 213 is in line with that trend and, if passed, would make Georgia APRNs fully independent practitioners.
We will be monitoring HB 213 as it works its way through Georgia’s legislative process this year.