MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2018 Regular Session

To: Public Health and Welfare

By: Senator(s) Burton, DeBar

Senate Bill 2101

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 73-25-35, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT CERTIFIED NURSE PRACTITIONERS WITH OVER 3,600 HOURS OF CLINICAL PRACTICE SHALL NOT BE REQUIRED TO HAVE A WRITTEN COLLABORATIVE AGREEMENT WITH A PHYSICIAN OR BE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT PATIENT CHARTS TO A PHYSICIAN FOR REVIEW; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

     BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

     SECTION 1.  Section 73-25-35, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     73-25-35.  (1)  Registered nurses who are licensed and certified by the Mississippi Board of Nursing as nurse practitioners are not prohibited from such nursing practice, but are entitled to engage therein without a physician's license.

     (2)  In the event that (a) an existing written practice agreement with a collaborating physician terminates as a result of:  the collaborating physician moving, retiring, no longer needing the services of the nurse practitioner, no longer being qualified to practice, or another cause due to no fault on the part of the nurse practitioner; and (b) the nurse practitioner demonstrates that he has made a good faith effort to enter into a new written practice agreement with a collaborating physician and has been unable to do so, upon approval of the Mississippi Board of Nursing, such certified nurse practitioner may continue to practice in collaboration with an advanced practice registered nurse or nurse practitioner who has been certified and practicing for more than three thousand six hundred (3,600) hours, and such certified nurse practitioner shall not be required to submit patient charts to a physician for review.

     SECTION 2.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2018.