CS for CS for CS for SB 676 - Access to Health Care Services

• Expands prescribing authority for advanced registered nurse practitioners (ARNPs) and physician assistants to prescribe brand name drugs, controlled substances, and certain medications under established protocols and formulary restrictions.

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

• Establishes Board of Nursing committee to create and adopt a formulary limiting controlled substances that ARNPs may prescribe, including restricting Schedule II controlled substances to 7-day supplies and psychiatric medications for children under 18.

• Exempts controlled substances prescribed by ARNPs or physician assistants from disqualifying state and deputy pilots from certification and requires continuing education on safe controlled substance prescribing for physician assistants and ARNPs.

• Standardizes health insurer prior authorization forms to a single approved form not exceeding two pages effective January 1, 2017, and restricts retroactive claim denials for insured ineligibility to situations where verification was not provided or denials occur more than one year after payment.