Calif. midwifery, PT, pharmacist bills move to governor's desk

During the legislative session that ended last week, California’s Senate and Assembly members introduced a suite of bills that aim to expand access to primary care. Although a bill to expand nurse practitioners’ roles didn’t pass, three other measures survived and have moved to Gov. Jerry Brown’s desk.

Assembly Bill (AB) 1308 removes the requirement for licensed midwives to be supervised by a physician. AB 1000 would eliminate the requirement that patients have a physician’s diagnosis to receive physical therapy. Under the bill, patients could access physical therapy directly. Senate Bill 493 allows pharmacists to order some lab tests and prescribe smoking cessation drugs.