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New York, Kansas, Massachusetts, and Delaware Become the latest States to Adopt Full Practice Authority for Nurse Practitioners

Client Alert
May 19, 2022

While the COVID-19 pandemic certainly created many obstacles and hardships, it also created many opportunities to try doing things differently. This can be seen in the instant rise of remote work opportunities, telehealth visits, and virtual meetings. Many States took the challenges of the pandemic and turned them into an opportunity to adjust the regulations governing licensed professionals, including for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). 

On April 15, 2022, Kansas became the latest state to remove practice restrictions on nurse practitioners and allow them to practice completely independent of any regulatorily mandated contractual relationship with a physician. This was very shortly after similar changes were made in New York, Massachusetts, and Delaware. In total, 26 States, the District of Columbia, and two U.S. territories (Guam and Northern Mariana Islands) now permit nurse practitioners to practice without any mandated collaborative agreement or supervision. Many other States, including Ohio, are currently evaluating legislation to implement full practice authority for APRNs. A map illustrating the current position of all U.S. States and territories regarding full practice authority can be found here.

It should be noted that each full practice authority State is different with regards to the requirements to practice independently. For example, some States require a transition to practice period where the APRN practices under supervision or regulatory collaboration for a minimum period of time before being licensed to practice independently.

The trend towards adopting full practice authority for APRNs will have a direct impact on the number of patient care roles that will be filled by APRNs. Over the course of seven years (as reported in 2020), the number of nurse practitioners in the U.S. more than doubled. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Labor expects the number of jobs held by nurse practitioners, CRNAs, and certified nurse midwives to increase 45% between 2020 and 2030.

If you have questions about APRN practice rules or starting an APRN-driven business, please don’t hesitate to contact Jeana Singleton by email at: jmsingleton@bmdllc.com, or by phone at: (330) 253-2001 or another member of the Health Law Department at Brennan, Manna & Diamond.

Jeana Singletonnurse practitionersHealth Law
Client Alert

What Inpatient Behavioral Health Providers Need to Know About ODM's New Draft Rule for Reimbursements

November 8, 2023Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) recently released a draft rule that will transform how inpatient behavioral health services are reimbursed for some hospitals. ODM will migrate inpatient payments for behavioral health and substance use disorder services (BH/SUD) provided by freestanding psychiatric hospitals (FSPs) from the APR-DRG payment methodology to a per diem payment methodology derived from the APR-DRG system.Press Release, Client Alert

BMD Named to the 2024 U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms”

November 2, 2023Brennan Manna & Diamond (BMD) is recognized among the leading law firms in the nation according to the 2024 Edition of U.S. News – Best Lawyers®  "Best Law Firms." The firm has ranked in in 13 practice areas and has earned “National Tier 1” rankings in Health Care Law and Litigation-Trusts & Estates.Client Alert

Friendly Physician Models: The Basics Through 5 Frequently Asked Questions

October 27, 2023During the past several years, many health law practices have noticed a dramatic increase in the number of telehealth businesses and private equity backed health care providers. Both of these trends often rely heavily on corporate structures commonly referred to as “friendly physician,” “captive PC” or “MSO” models. Although friendly physician models are used by non-physician health care providers (e.g., physical therapists, psychologists, and dentists), this article focuses on physicians and how the model is used in connection with the provision of professional medical services.Client Alert

The DOL and EEOC Enter a Partnership to Strengthen Federal Employment Law Enforcement

October 23, 2023On September 13, the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Wage and Hour Division and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) agreeing to work together in enforcing federal employment laws. The MOU forms a partnership between the two agencies to encourage coordination through information sharing, joint investigations, training, and outreach.Client Alert

Proposed Laboratory Arrangement Draws Heightened Scrutiny from the OIG

October 18, 2023On September 25, 2023, the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (OIG) issued Advisory Opinion 23-06 (AO). The Opinion involved a proposed arrangement between an independent laboratory and other physician laboratories for the purchase of the technical component of anatomic pathology services. The OIG ultimately concluded that the arrangement at issue, if it was entered into with the requisite intent, would implicate the Federal Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS) and constitute grounds for sanctions.
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