March 27, 2020

AUSTIN, TEXAS — The American Association of Nurse Practitioners® (AANP), the largest association representing nurse practitioners (NPs) of all specialties, applauds the U.S. House of Representatives’ passage today of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act containing provisions to bolster seniors’ access to home health care services and provide needed funding for personal protective equipment (PPE) for NPs and other health care providers. The legislation authorizes NPs to certify and recertify home health care services for Medicare patients, strengthens funding for PPE and ensures vital resources to respond to the pandemic.  Read more on AANP's newsfeed at https://www.aanp.org/news-feed/aanp-commends-house-passage-of-covid-19-stimulus-legislation?fbclid=IwAR1vNCS-nOK5VqVByXu_ZPx-0hH9WxPrZnJUdOjaZtz1fCkd76YM0lNJ5PE

March 3, 2020

Wyoming's 65th Legislative Session is in full swing and multiple nurse practitioner related bills are under consideration.

Senate File 91, would reduce barriers to care by granting global signature authority to advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants. If enacted, this bill would authorize APRNs & PAs to provide a signature, certification, stamp, verification, affidavit, endorsement or other acknowledgement whenever law requires such by a physician.

As introduced, Senate File 117 provides for worker's compensation for first responders who experience a mental health injury that has been diagnosed by a licensed psychiatrist or licensed clinical psychologist. An amendment to this bill, authorizes psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners to diagnose a mental health injury in first responders and to diagnose a mental health injury that occurs with a physical injury for other worker's compensation cases.

Both bills were passed by the Senate on February 26 and will now head to the House for consideration.

House Bill 145 would have authorized an APRN or PA to serve as a medical director for an ambulance service when the services provided were within the scope of practice for the APRN or PA. This bill was heard by the House Judiciary Committee on February 17 but failed to pass.

You may track the progress of these and other bills AANP is monitoring by visiting the State Legislation Tracking Center. AANP will provide updates to our members as bills relevant to nurse practitioner practice move through the legislative process.

Thank you,

Maria Kidner, APRN, DNP, FNP-BC, FAANP, AANP Wyoming State Representative
Jamie Kings, AANP State Policy Analyst