S.B. 839 Summary

• Authorizes advanced practice registered nurses to practice medical aid in dying and serve as attending or consulting providers, in addition to physicians.

• Expands counseling provider qualifications to include psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists, in addition to existing psychiatrists, psychologists, and clinical social workers.

• Reduces the mandatory waiting period between oral requests for medical aid in dying from 20 days to 15 days.

• Allows waiver of the 15-day waiting period for terminally ill individuals whose attending provider attests they will die within 15 days of the initial oral request.

• Maintains the 48-hour waiting period between written request and prescription availability.