State reforms expand the role of APRNs

State reforms expanded the role of APRNs on multiple fronts. Arkansas, Florida and South Carolina recently advanced APRN prescriptive authority for opioids in specific circumstances, and legislation enacted in other states improved or clarified APRN scope of practice, including signature authority. APRNs in Connecticut were added to statutes related to behavioral health, health care facility admissions and other areas where only physicians or other providers had previously been mentioned. Several states also adopted new policies regarding APRNs in telehealth, including a Kentucky policy awarding full Medicaid reimbursement for APRN-provided telehealth services. (Newswise news release, 1/24/20)