Feb 15, 2024 Legislative Update

HB0216  Titled Advanced Practice Registered Nurses – Certification and sponsored by Representatives Trujillo, Newsome, Ottman, Penn and Senator(s) Brennan, Ellis and Hutchings this bill seeks to clarify that APRNS are NOT required to have advanced certification as specified; allowing for physician oversight as specified.

 

It reads:

“The board of nursing shall not require advanced practice registered nurses to obtain any advanced certification in order to administer care to patients in a hospital setting. Physician oversight may be determined by the medical staff bylaws of a hospital.”

 

It seems as if to strip the Wyoming State Board of Nursing from the requirements of certification, reduces their authority to define appropriate scope of practice to population foci, and maintains physician oversight as determined by medical staff bylaws.

 

My take is twofold:

 

Many states are moving to requiring ACNP, ENP, NNP for practice WITHIN the hospital setting to assure safe practice by virtue of education and certification.  Seems logical.  This may block that movement.

Medical staff bylaws are being challenged as “physician oversight” has included restraint of trade issues, not allowing APRNs to be full members of the medical staff.  I am unclear if the last sentence is to strengthen that platform or usurp it.

 

WSBON, WNA are closely watching this bill.  There is no current floor session in the House scheduled for INTRODUCTION. 

 

Bill was asked for by Eric Boley, Wyoming Hospital Association in response to a NP who wants to do inpatient work in pediatrics in Cody. Wesley Davis and Alicia Le Pard had conversations with Eric Boley on 02/15/2024 and there is an agreement to have the bill pulled back and will be worked on together in interim.

 

NO SCHEDULED ACTION

Update on the others that may impact Nursing/APRN - I will UPDATE HERE

 

I did a quick rundown for the APRNs of the bills currently on the docket – two days ago. 

 

There are a couple of big ones.

 

HB0014 Prior Authorization Regulations.  It was introduced today and passed back to Labor.  WCAPN already asked for a couple of minor amendments on language, which I am reassured are going to happen.

02/14/2024 – Heard in Labor Health Committee for first read. Amendments that we asked for were included (changing physician to healthcare provider) and Do Pass with a unanimous vote- which moved it back to the House Floor General File

02/15/2024 COW PASSED

SECOND READ 02/16/2024 @1000h

 

HB 0015, regulations about repayment of overpayments to insurers could be fun and it passed thru to Labor today. 

                02/14/2024 – Heard in Labor Health today, Passed Committee of the Whole today. 

SCHEDULED FOR HOUSE SECOND READ 02/15/2024 – PASSED

SCHEDULED FOR HOUSE THIRD READ CONSENT LIST 02/16/2024 @ 1000h

 

HB 0024 which is designed to repeal certificate of need for building new facilities and it also passed back to Labor.

                SCHEDULED TO HOUSE Labor Health, Social Services  02/16/2024 0800h

 

HB108 – Protection of healthcare workers – again

                02/14/2024  FAILED INTRODUCTION

 

One’s not so fond of

HB 0050 – What is a Woman Act – is trying way too hard to define  a female.

                SCHEDULED for Introduction 02/15/2024 1000h session

                02/15/2024 FAILED INTRODUCTION

 

HB 0053 Public Health Emergency definition amendment is trying to limit the governor’s authority to declare an emergency by making the legislature vote to agree

                FAILED INTRODUCTION

 

HB0059 Prohibiting mask, vaccine and testing discrimination – Objecting the shall not notice that a person may be required to have a face overing…. The rest is overkill COVID response

                FAILED INTRODUCTION

 

HB0091 Health mandates- CDC and WHO jurisdiction in Wyoming – essentially outlawing CDC and WHO’s jurisdiction in Wyoming, but interestingly only applies to COVID-19…like late to the party

                No current scheduled floor session

 

HB 0095 – Healthcare providers – submission of insurance claims.  While the premise is reasonable – the provider is responsible for submission of claims, I can tell you the insurance industry is not playing with us enough to do all of them ourselves.  I have several insurances we cannot find electronic access to.  So, in the end – I’d put this burden on insurance first.  At least, that is what I am telling Eric Barlow who cosponsored this bill.

                HOUSE INTRODUCTION VOTE 02/16/2024@1000h

 

HB 123 & 124 Repealing mandatory immunizations including smallpox

                HB0123 – No current scheduled action

                HB0124 – HOUSE INTRODUCTION VOTE 02/16/2024@1000h

 

SF0005 Organ transplant recipient protection – to the Labor, came from Labor

                SCHEDULED for Senate Labor, Health, Social Services 02/16/2024 at 0800h

 

SF0081 – Hospital or healthcare district created entities – immunity, adding a entities formed under W.S. 18-8-301(a)(iii) to be immune under the Wyoming Governmental Claims Act

                PASSED INTRODUCTION

                REFERRED TO LABOR, HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES

                SCHEDULED in Senate LHSS 02/16/2024 0800h

 

HB0115 – Donated blood-mRNA disclosure

                AWAITING introduction

                No scheduled action

 

 

 

Ones to watch

HB0174 Paid family and medical leave act puts forward a system to have employees of the state first, the later private have access to a payment plan for paid family and medical leave.

                SCHEDULED for Introduction 02/15/2024 1000h

                FAILED INTRODUCTION

 

HB0173 – is an interesting one on assuring the pharmacy benefits manager shall include a retail pharmacy instead of just mail order

                SCHEDULED for Introduction 02/15/2024 10000h

 

HB 0044 Parental rights in minor child’s health care.

                INTRODUCED, Referred to LHSS

                SCHEDULED in LHSS 02/16/2024 0800h

 

HB0057 Parental rights regarding vaccination

                AWAITING INTRODUCTION

                NO SCHEDULED ACTION

 

HB0148 Regulation of Surgical Abortions – Gives an avenue of surgical means if needed to save a life

                INTRODUCED 02/14/2024,

                PASSED to JUDICIARY – NO SCHEDULED ACTION

 

HJ0004 – Right of healthcare access – constitutional amendment eliminating the legislature’s authority to determine reasonable and necessary restrictions on a person’s right to make health care decisions and to direct payment for health care. (????)

                FAILED INTRODUCTION 02/14/2024