HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

139

THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

 

requesting the auditor to conduct an analysis regarding the scopes of practice for advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants.

 

 

 


     WHEREAS, this body recognizes that there is a physician shortage in the State, which often presents a challenge for rural communities to access health care; and

 

     WHEREAS, advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants are vital health care professionals who are capable of filling in some of the gaps in access to health care in the State; and

 

     WHEREAS, various measures have been introduced during the Regular Session of 2022 and past Regular Sessions that have proposed expanding the scopes of practice for advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants; and

 

     WHEREAS, there is a need to clearly distinguish the scopes of practice of advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants and determine the appropriate scope of practice for each of these professions in Hawaii to better complement the work of physicians; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2022, that the Auditor is requested to conduct an analysis regarding the scopes of practice for advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Auditor is requested to analyze whether the scopes of practice for advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants should be expanded in certain areas of medical care and services, including:

 

     (1)  School-based health services;

 

     (2)  Medical care for minors related to human immunodeficiency virus;

 

     (3)  Abortion care;

 

     (4)  The records review process for prescriptions of controlled substances;

 

     (5)  Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments waived tests;

 

     (6)  Medical aid in dying; and

 

     (7)  Other medical care and services; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Auditor may include in its analysis a comparison to other jurisdictions and whether those jurisdictions allow for similar expanded scopes of practice; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Auditor is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2023; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Auditor, Chairperson of the Hawaii Medical Board, and Chairperson of the State Board of Nursing.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

Report Title: 

Auditor; Analysis; Scope of Practice; Advanced Practice Registered Nurses; Physician Assistants