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SB 614 and SB 476 passed Rules committee in Senate today

Posted over 10 years ago by Michelle Taylor

Forwarded from FNA: 
Update from Florida Nurses Association:

This afternoon, the Senate Rules Committee overwhelmingly approved SB 614 by Sen. Denise Grimsley, an omnibus bill which contains language that allows ARNPs and physician assistants to prescribe controlled substances under the supervision of a physician.

The bill earned overwhelming support from most groups within the health care industry due to amendments that were added. One such amendment that earned support from the medical community would make it easier for prescribing practitioners to override health plans when it comes to step therapy or fail-first protocols.

The bill does, however, contain some provisions not favored by some groups. For example, SB 614 allows only psychiatric nurses to prescribe psychotropic drugs to children and requires the practice of pain intervention medicine to be done in a hospital or under the direct supervision of a physician.

Other provisions of the bill:
  • Schedule II drugs would be limited to a 7-day prescription
  • ARNPs and PAs would be required to take three additional hours of continuing education in controlled substance prescribing
  • The Board of Nursing would be required to establish a committee to develop a formulary of drugs that nurses can or cannot prescribe, along with specific uses and limited quantities.

The Florida Nurses Association was one of more than a dozen groups supporting SB 614. The FNA would like to thank Sen. Grimsley, who navigated the bill through a complicated committee process today. Her ability to reach consensus is the among the reasons why the bill has traveled this far in the Senate for the first time in over two decades.

SB 614 now goes to the full Senate for a floor vote. We will be asking for your help in contacting Senators in the near future, along with members of the House. It is uncertain at this point if the House will accept the new changes made today to SB 614.

In the meantime, we ask you to contact Sen. Grimsley (grimsley.denise@flsenate.gov) to thank her for her efforts. Please send an email to the following Senators who live closest to you and thank them for their vote today:

Stay tuned for more exciting updates from FNA in the final days of the legislative session.

(Note Senator Negron once again voted NO) 

SB 476 (Baker Act) bill passed through this final committee today as well.