LEGISLATIVE ALERT!! (March 28, 2007)
I am pleased to announce that we are one step closer to advanced practice nurses being recognized providers who may sign waiver applications for walking impaired parking placards.
On Monday, State Senator Patty Clancy and the Ohio Senate Highways and Transportation Committee included language in an omnibus amendment to the Transportation budget, to add advanced practice nurses to the list of providers that currently includes physicians and chiropractors.
The relevant section of the Ohio Revised Code was originally passed in 1980 predating Ohio's recognition of advanced practice nurses. Despite the fact it is within an apns' scope of practice to examine the patient, diagnose the problem, determine a plan of treatment, prescribe meds if required and make the decision and to whether a patient qualifies for the placard, you could not sign the state required form.
Problems in the bill not relevant to the placard issue resulted in the House of Representatives not concurring in Senate amendments. Therefore the bill was sent to a joint conference committee comprised of three members from each chamber so that differences between the bills could be addressed. Those deliberations are now complete, with the apn language still in tact. Today the House and Senate will vote to accept the conference report.
The effect of all of this is that 90 days from the point in time that Governor Strickland signs the bill, apns will be able to sign the requisite Bureau of Motor Vehicle forms and they will be accepted by the bureau. It is unclear when the bill will make its way to the Governor's desk, but I anticipate this process to be complete by the end of the summer.
Please do not sign any of these forms until you hear from OAAPN. We will announce when this legislative change takes effect. |
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