HB1134
To Adopt The Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Compact In Arkansas.
Last Action (Jan. 15, 2025): WITHDRAWN BY AUTHOR
Sponsors
AI-Generated Summary
House Bill 1134 proposes the adoption of the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) Compact in Arkansas. This compact allows APRNs who hold a multistate license issued by their home state to practice in other participating member states without obtaining additional individual state licenses. The bill establishes uniform licensure requirements for APRNs, including specific educational, certification, and background check standards. It creates a coordinated licensure information system to facilitate the sharing of regulatory and disciplinary data between states. Additionally, the compact grants APRNs with a multistate license the authority to provide care independently, without requiring a formal supervisory or collaborative relationship, and provides authority to prescribe non-controlled substances. The legislation aims to increase healthcare access and reduce administrative redundancies for both practitioners and regulatory bodies.
Potential Impact Analysis
Who Might Benefit?
The primary beneficiaries include Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) residing in member states, who would gain increased professional mobility and face fewer bureaucratic barriers when practicing across state lines. Healthcare delivery systems and employers would benefit from a more flexible, mobile, and streamlined workforce. Patients, particularly those in rural or underserved areas, may benefit from increased access to care providers. Additionally, state licensing boards and regulatory agencies benefit from the coordinated licensure information system, which enhances communication and tracking of adverse actions and disciplinary records.
Who Might Suffer?
Potentially, state licensing boards could experience a reduction in licensure fee revenue due to the elimination of redundant licensing requirements for multistate practitioners. Some existing professional entities or medical organizations that support mandatory physician supervision or collaboration requirements may see this legislation as a challenge to their current oversight structures, as the bill explicitly authorizes independent practice for those under the compact. Furthermore, there could be concerns among local regulatory bodies regarding the loss of direct control over setting specific practice standards that differ from the uniform compact requirements.
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