SB 210 Summary

• Expands prescription authority for advanced registered nurse practitioners and physician assistants to prescribe brand name drugs and controlled substances, subject to formulary restrictions and continuing education requirements on safe controlled substance prescribing.

• Requires hospitals to provide 90 days advance notice to obstetrical physicians before closing obstetrical departments or ceasing obstetrical services.

• Creates formularies limiting controlled substance prescribing by advanced registered nurse practitioners and physician assistants, including restricting Schedule II substances to 7-day supplies and psychiatric medications for minors to specialists only.

• Requires health insurers and health maintenance organizations to use Financial Services Commission-approved prior authorization forms, allow override requests for step-therapy and fail-first protocols within 24 hours under specified clinical circumstances, and prohibit retroactive claim denials if eligibility was verified at time of treatment.

• Exempts controlled substances prescribed by advanced registered nurse practitioners and physician assistants from disqualifying individuals from pilot certification and allows possession of such prescribed medications during probation.