32-3106. Health professional groups; proposed increased scope of practice; factors; legislation

A. A health professional group that is seeking an increased scope of practice shall explain each of the following factors:

1. Why an increased scope of practice is beneficial, including the extent to which health care consumers need and will benefit from safe, quality care from practitioners with this scope of practice.

2. Whether those health professionals seeking an increased scope of practice currently have or will be required to have didactic and clinical education from accredited professional schools or training from recognized programs that prepare them to perform the proposed scope of practice, and details on what that education or training includes for that proposed scope of practice.

3. Whether the subject matter of the proposed increased scope of practice is currently tested by nationally recognized and accepted examinations for applicants for professional licensure and the details of the examination relating to the increased scope of practice.

4. The extent to which the proposed increased scope of practice will impact the practice of those who are currently licensed in this state or the entry into practice of those individuals who have relocated from other states with substantially equivalent requirements for registration, certification or licensure as this state.

5. The extent to which implementing the proposed increased scope of practice may result in savings or a cost to this state and to the public.

6. The relevant health profession licensure laws, if any, in this or other states.

7. Recommendations, if any, from the applicable regulatory entity or entities, from the department of health services and from accredited educational or training programs.

B. The legislature shall review any legislation to increase the scope of practice according to the following criteria:

1. Any limit on a health profession's scope of practice must be only for the purpose of protecting the public from a specific harm or danger.

2. Whether the addition of adequately trained health professionals providing an expanded range of professional health care services will have a beneficial effect to the public and increase access to safe, quality care.

3. Whether any changes in the health profession's regulatory entity are necessary to adequately protect the public.

C. The legislature shall not consider either of the following in its review of legislation to increase the scope of practice:

1. Competition from or with other licensed professions.

2. The ability or inability to obtain health insurance coverage for the proposed increased scope of practice.