NY A05146

Certified nurse practitioners licensed under Education Law § 6910 and practicing under § 6902 may diagnose and treat workers' compensation claimants, including performing independent medical examinations, if authorized by the workers' compensation board chair.

Nurse practitioners must file applications with the nurse practitioner practice committee and agree not to treat injury-related patients privately if removed from the authorized list; the chair establishes fee schedules for nurse practitioner services.

Nurse practitioners must submit preliminary notice of injury and treatment within 48 hours of first treatment and complete reports within 15 days, with progress reports as requested by the chair, board, employer, or insurance carrier.

A nurse practitioner practice committee composed of two certified nurse practitioners and one physician reviews disputed bills, investigates misconduct, and makes recommendations to the chair; the chair may remove practitioners from the authorized list for professional misconduct, incompetency, or violation of fee schedules.

The bill takes effect 180 days after becoming law, with rule-making authority granted immediately to implement necessary regulations.