Physicians and Nurses Reach Consensus on HB 216

(June 30, 2016) The Ohio House of Representatives passed a compromise version of HB 216, which modernizes the advance practice nurse (APRN) practice act, before adjourning at the end of May; the bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.

Following months of interested party meetings and public testimony in the House, the physician coalition became "neutral" on the ninth version of the bill after reaching a compromise with the APRNs under the guidance of Rep. Dorothy Pelanda (R-Marysville), the bill’s sponsor.  The associations have compiled an Amended Substitute HB 216 Comparison Doucment showing the original provisions in the bill versus those in the final version as approved by the House.

OOA is one of nine physician organizations originally opposing HB 216/SB 279. The physician associations have repeatedly demonstrated their willingness to work with a wide variety of allied health professionals to improve Ohio’s delivery of health care, including the physician assistants (PAs) in revising their scope of practice in  Senate Bill 110,  and the pharmacists when revising consult agreement provisions in House Bill 188.  The physician organizations believe that a team-based approach best serves Ohioans’ health care needs and that patients deserve the expertise and involvement of a physician in their care.

More resources and information on HB 216.