New state law allows nurse practitioners to prescribe medication

Some nurse practitioners (NP) in Kentucky have more flexibility to prescribe routine medications without a physician thanks to a new law that went into effect this week.

Under the new law, which was passed earlier this year following five years of legislative debate, NPs who have previously completed a four-year collaboration with a physician will be able to prescribe certain medications independently.

Before this new law, NPs were only able to prescribe medication if they had a collaborative agreement with a physician. If the physician ever pulled out of the agreement, NPs were required seek out another physician to enter into an agreement to continue prescribing.

 

NPs will still have to enter into a collaborative agreement with a physician if they intend to prescribe certain drugs such as oxycodone, testosterone, and cough syrup with codeine.

Source: Kaiser Health News