SECTION 1. For the purposes of this section, “medication order” shall mean an order for medication entered on a patient’s medical record maintained at a hospital, other health facility or ambulatory health care setting registered under this chapter that is dispensed only for immediate administration at the facility to the ultimate user by an individual who administers such medication under this chapter.

Notwithstanding subsection (g) of section 7 of chapter 94C of the General Laws or any other general or special law to the contrary, a nurse practitioner, nurse anesthetist, nurse midwife or psychiatric nurse mental health clinical specialist may be registered pursuant to subsection (f) of section 7 of chapter 94C of the General Laws and, if registered, shall have independent practice authority to issue written prescriptions and medication orders and order tests and therapeutics pursuant to said subsection (f) of said section 7 and section 9 of said chapter 94C; provided, however, that such authority shall only apply if the nurse practitioner, nurse anesthetist, nurse midwife or psychiatric nurse mental health clinical specialist has completed not less than 2 years of supervised practice following certification from a certifying body recognized by the board of registration in nursing; provided, however, the board of registration in nursing may reduce the 2-year period of supervised practice for nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives or psychiatric nurse mental health clinical specialists if it deems that it is necessary to ensure safe and adequate access to nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives or psychiatric nurse mental health clinical specialists.

SECTION 2. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, for the purposes of chapter 111 of the General Laws, the term “health care provider” shall include a registered pharmacist.

SECTION 3. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, for the purposes of sections 12 and 21 of chapter 123 of the General Laws, the word “physician” shall include a qualified advanced practice registered nurse.

SECTION 4. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the department of public health may issue guidance on the implementation of this act. The guidance may include, but shall not be limited to, an expedited or abbreviated registration process under section 1.

SECTION 5. Sections 1 to 4, inclusive, are hereby repealed.

SECTION 6. Section 5 shall take effect 90 days after termination of the governor’s March 10, 2020 declaration of a state of emergency.