FILED ON: 2/6/2018

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4355

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninetieth General Court
(2017-2018)

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An Act to improve access to care by removing barriers to practice for psychiatric clinical nurse specialists.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Subsection (g) of said section 7 of chapter 94C of the general laws, as appearing in the 2016 Official Edition, is hereby amended in the second paragraph by striking out, in lines 138 and 139, and in lines 148 and 149, the words “and psychiatric nurse mental health clinical specialists”.

SECTION 2. Subsection (g) of said section 7 of chapter 94C of the general laws, as appearing in the 2016 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding at the end thereof the following paragraph;-

The commissioner shall promulgate regulations which provide for the registration of psychiatric nurse mental health clinical specialists as defined in section 80 B of chapter 112, to issue written prescriptions in accordance with regulations pursuant to section 80I of chapter 112. Prior to promulgating such regulations, the commissioner shall consult with the board of registration in nursing with regard to those schedules of controlled substances for which psychiatric nurse mental health clinical specialists may be registered.

SECTION 3. Section 80E of Chapter 112 of the general laws, as appearing in the 2016 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 1 and 2, and in line 8, the words “or psychiatric nurse mental health clinical specialist”.

SECTION 4. Chapter 112 of the general laws, as appearing in the 2016 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding section 80J: -

Section 80J. A nurse authorized to practice as a psychiatric nurse mental health clinical specialist pursuant to section 80B, may order and interpret tests, therapeutics and prescribe medications in accordance with regulations promulgated by the board and subject to the provisions of subsection (g) of section 7 of chapter 94C after two years of supervision by a supervising nurse practitioner or psychiatric nurse mental health clinical specialist who has independent practice authority or a supervising physician, in accordance with regulation promulgated by the board.