This week, the Ohio Senate passed HB 138 unanimously, with a 30-0 vote taken on Wednesday afternoon. HB 138 includes a long-awaited fix that would allow emergency responders to follow Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) orders signed by nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs). Under Ohio law, NPs and PAs are permitted to sign DNR orders, but EMTs may only follow orders signed by physicians.
In addition to addressing this discrepancy in the Ohio Revised Code, the bill also includes a Senate-added amendment that would require a single licensed EMT– rather than two– to support non-emergency medical transports. This would alleviate some of the staffing pressure faced by medical transportation providers, and hopefully expand access for residents of nursing facilities, hospice patients, and others who require cot transportation for medical appointments.
The bill now heads back to the House for concurrence before going to the Governor’s desk. It will take effect 90 days following the Governor’s signature. Any questions related to HB 138 may be sent to Susan Wallace at swallace@leadingageohio.org.