By AP
Frankfort, Ky – The Kentucky House has voted to allow advanced registered nurse practitioners to prescribe narcotics and other controlled substances.
The proposal was tacked onto a senate bill dealing with certification of surgical assistants. The expanded measure passed the House on a 69-17 vote and now goes back to the Senate.
Representative Mary Lou Marzian of Louisville says that broadening the preseription writing authority of nurse practitioners would increase access to health care. She said 44 states already allow nurse practioners to write prescriptions for controlled drugs.
The bill would limit nurse practioners to writing a 72 hour supply for some controlled drugs. Also, they would have to work in collaboration with doctors to prescribe controlled drugs.