HB443 Summary

• Eliminates the requirement for certified registered nurse practitioners (CRNPs) and certified nurse midwives (CNMs) to practice in collaboration with physicians, allowing them to practice independently within the scope permitted by the Board of Nursing.

• Authorizes CRNPs and CNMs to prescribe medications within the scope permitted by the Board of Medical Examiners and Board of Nursing without physician collaboration.

• Establishes a Qualified Alabama Controlled Substances Registration Certificate (QACSC) for CRNPs and CNMs seeking to prescribe controlled substances, requiring completion of approved advanced pharmacology courses and 12 months of active clinical practice.

• Updates definitions of advanced practice nursing roles and collaboration requirements, removing references to mandatory physician collaboration from applicable statutes while maintaining Board of Nursing certification requirements.

• Repeals Sections 34-21-80, 34-21-83, 34-21-92, and 34-21-93 of the Alabama Code; becomes effective on the first day of the third month following passage and approval.