PRINTER'S NO. 1550
No. 1255 Session of 2007
INTRODUCED BY WATERS, MYERS, JOSEPHS, BLACKWELL, EACHUS,
MANDERINO, PASHINSKI AND SOLOBAY, MAY 10, 2007
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE, MAY 10, 2007
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of December 20, 1985 (P.L.457, No.112),
2 entitled "An act relating to the right to practice medicine
3 and surgery and the right to practice medically related acts;
4 reestablishing the State Board of Medical Education and
5 Licensure as the State Board of Medicine and providing for
6 its composition, powers and duties; providing for the
7 issuance of licenses and certificates and the suspension and
8 revocation of licenses and certificates; providing penalties;
9 and making repeals," further providing for nurse-midwife
10 license.
11 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
12 hereby enacts as follows:
13 Section 1. Section 35 of the act of December 20, 1985
14 (P.L.457, No.112), known as the Medical Practice Act of 1985, is
15 amended by adding a subsection to read:
16 Section 35. Nurse-midwife license.
17 * * *
18 (c) Authorization.--
19 (1) A nurse midwife is authorized to provide and manage
20 primary health care of women during pregnancy, childbirth and
21 the postpartum period, provide care of the neonate and
22 provide office gynecological care and family planning
1 services.
2 (2) A nurse midwife may, consistent with the midwife's
3 academic educational preparation and national certification,
4 prescribe, dispense, order and administer the following:
5 (i) Legend drugs and Schedule II through Schedule V
6 controlled substances provided that the midwife:
7 (A) Has successfully completed at least 45 hours
8 of coursework specific to advanced pharmacology at a
9 level above that required by a professional nursing
10 education program.
11 (B) In the two years prior to the biennial
12 renewal of the nurse midwife's license, successfully
13 completes at least 16 hours of continuing education
14 in pharmacology approved by the board. The nurse
15 midwife shall provide the board with evidence that
16 the nurse midwife has completed such training as part
17 of the biennial renewal process.
18 (C) Acts in collaboration with a physician as
19 set forth in a written agreement which shall at a
20 minimum identify the categories of drugs from which
21 the nurse midwife may prescribe or dispense and the
22 circumstances under which the collaborating physician
23 will personally see the patient.
24 (D) Acts in accordance with regulations
25 promulgated by the board, which shall not
26 unreasonably restrict the midwife's practice.
27 (ii) Medical devices.
28 (iii) Immunizing agents.
29 (iv) Laboratory tests.
30 (v) Therapeutic, diagnostic and preventative
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1 measures.
2 Section 2. The State Board of Medicine shall promulgate
3 regulations to implement the amendment of section 35 of the act
4 within 18 months of the effective date of this act.
5 Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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