Legislative Update: Oklahoma House passes APRN legislation 

Posted on: 2/16/24

APRN prescriptive authority took a step forward this week when the state House passed SB 458 (Sen. Brenda Stanley/Rep. Marcus McEntire). The bill would require 6240 hours of supervision and would not allow APRNs (advanced practice registered nurses) to dispense schedule IIs. Rep. McEntire stated during question and answers on the bill that this does not represent an agreement between the physicians and nurses on the measure. It passed the floor by a vote of 79 to 10 and now heads to the Senate for further consideration and debate. 

Staying with the Oklahoma House, the Public Health Committee chaired by Rep. Cynthia Roe, heard HB 2997 by Rep. Randy Randleman this week. The bill would provide prescriptive authority to psychologists who meet certain requirements. It passed the committee by a vote of 4 to 2. 

Another measure heard in House Public Health this week was HB 3798 by Rep. Ellyn Hefner. The bill creates the Oklahoma Community Health Worker Act, which directs the state department of health to establish a certification for community health workers. Rep. Hefner indicated during her presentation of the bill that it may be the first step in community health workers receiving reimbursement in the future. It passed the committee by a vote of 6 to 0. 

In news from the Oklahoma Senate, Majority Floor Leader Sen. Greg McCortney (R-Ada) was named Pro Temp Designee by his caucus on Monday. (Scott Tohlen)