Existing law requires certain providers of health care licensed by the Board of Medical Examiners and the State Board of Osteopathic Medicine to complete certain continuing education as a condition to the renewal of the license. Existing law sets forth certain courses of instruction and training that each Board must require certain licensees to complete, including, among other courses and training, a course of instruction on evidence-based suicide prevention and awareness and training in the screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment approach to substance use disorder. (NRS 630.253, 633.471) Additionally, existing law requires each Board to require a physician, osteopathic physician and physician assistant who is registered to dispense controlled substances to complete at least 2 hours of training relating specifically to persons with substance use and other addictive disorders and the prescribing of opioids during each period of licensure. (NRS 630.2535, 633.473) Sections 1, 12 and 21 of this bill eliminate provisions requiring each Board to require the completion of certain specified courses of instruction and training. Sections 1 and 12 maintain the requirement for certain licensees to complete continuing education but, rather than requiring each Board to require the completion of certain specified courses and training, sections 1 and 12 require each Board to encourage each licensee to complete courses of instruction in, among other subjects: (1) evidence-based suicide prevention and awareness; (2) the screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment approach to substance use disorder; (3) the prescribing of opioids; and (4) care for persons with an addictive disorder. Sections 5 and 19 of this bill eliminate provisions making the failure of a licensee to complete training relating to persons with substance use and other addictive disorders and the prescribing of opioids grounds for initiating disciplinary action by the Board of Medical Examiners and the State Board of Osteopathic Medicine, respectively. Section 12 additionally increases, from 35 to 40, the number of hours of continuing medical education certain providers of health care licensed by the State Board of Osteopathic Medicine are required to complete during each period of licensure. Existing law requires the Board of Medical Examiners to adopt regulations regarding the licensure of a physician assistant. (NRS 630.275) Existing law establishes a biennial registration fee for a physician assistant licensed by the Board. (NRS 630.268) Under existing law, the Board is required to exempt a physician assistant on inactive status from paying the biennial registration fee. (NRS 630.255) Section 2 of this bill eliminates that exception. Section 4 of this bill instead requires the Board to require a physician assistant on inactive status to pay a fee for biennial registration. Section 3 of this bill sets forth the maximum amount of that fee. Section 3 additionally increases the maximum amount of the fees for: (1) biennial registration for a physician from $800 to $1,200; and (2) biennial registration for a physician who is on inactive status from $400 to $600. Existing law authorizes the Board to keep certain information confidential, including, among other information, any statement, evidence, credential or other proof submitted in support of or to verify the contents of an application for a license. (NRS 630.336) Section 6 of this bill requires the Board, if authorized by a licensee, to provide to an employer of the licensee or an entity credentialing the licensee copies of any documents or other information obtained by the Board during the application process for the issuance of the license of the licensee, including, without limitation, copies of documents and other information verifying the completion by the licensee of any educational program related to licensure and verifying certain other matters concerning the licensee. Existing law, with certain exceptions, provides for the annual renewal of a license to practice osteopathic medicine issued by the State Board of Osteopathic Medicine and sets forth a renewal date for such a license as January 1 of each calendar year. (NRS 633.471) Section 12 instead provides, with certain exceptions, for the biennial renewal of such a license and establishes the renewal date for such a license as December 31 of each even-numbered year. Existing regulations provide for the annual renewal of a license as a physician assistant issued by the Board. (NAC 633.285) Sections 9 and 10 of this bill instead provide for the biennial renewal of such a license and establish the renewal date as December 31 of each odd-numbered year. Existing law provides for the biennial renewal of a license as an anesthesiologist assistant issued by the Board. (NRS 633.4254) Section 7 of this bill establishes a renewal date for such a license as December 31 of each odd-numbered year. Section 20 of this bill sets forth certain requirements for the renewal of certain licenses issued by the Board which are held by a licensee on December 31, 2025. Existing law sets forth procedures by which a person may be simultaneously licensed as a physician assistant or anesthesiologist assistant by the Board of Medical Examiners and the State Board of Osteopathic Medicine. (NRS 630.2677, 630.26835, 630.2684, 630.26845, 630.2735, 630.2755, 633.4256, 633.4258, 633.426, 633.4332, 633.438, 633.4718) Under existing law, a person who is licensed as a physician assistant or anesthesiologist assistant by the State Board of Osteopathic Medicine and who wishes to be simultaneously licensed by both the Board of Medical Examiners and the State Board of Osteopathic Medicine is required to: (1) apply to the Board of Medical Examiners for a license to practice as a physician assistant or anesthesiologist assistant, as applicable; (2) pay all applicable fees, including, the fee payable to the Board of Medical Examiners for an application for and the issuance of a simultaneous license as a physician assistant or anesthesiologist assistant, as applicable, and the annual simultaneous registration fee for a physician assistant or biennial simultaneous registration fee for an anesthesiologist assistant, as applicable, payable to the State Board of Osteopathic Medicine; and (3) if the person is applying for simultaneous licensure while renewing his or her license, apply to renew his or her license and indicate in the application that he or she wishes to hold a simultaneous license. (NRS 633.426, 633.438, 633.4718) Sections 8, 11 and 15 of this bill instead require such a person to pay to the State Board of Osteopathic Medicine a biennial simultaneous license renewal fee, rather than an annual or biennial simultaneous license registration fee. Section 14 of this bill similarly eliminates a reference to the biennial registration of a license. Existing law requires the State Board of Osteopathic Medicine to: (1) maintain a list of each licensed osteopathic physician and physician assistant and certain training that each such licensee has received; and (2) update the list at least annually with information received from licensees who renewed their licenses during the preceding year. (NRS 633.4715) Section 13 of this bill requires the Board to instead update the list at least biennially with such information from licensees who renewed their licenses during the preceding biennium. Sections 16 and 17 of this bill revise certain other procedures and requirements relating to licensure to account for the change from an annual to a biennial period of licensure for certain osteopathic physicians and physician assistants. Existing law sets forth a list of maximum fees to be charged and collected by the Board. (NRS 633.501) Section 18 of this bill: (1) revises the descriptions of certain fees; (2) increases the amount of certain fees to account for the change from an annual to a biennial period of licensure for certain osteopathic physicians and physician assistants; and (3) establishes a biennial license renewal fee and a biennial simultaneous license renewal fee for an anesthesiologist assistant.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 630.253, 630.255, 630.268, 630.275, 630.306, 630.336, 633.4254, 633.426, 633.433, 633.434, 633.438, 633.471, 633.4715, 633.4717, 633.4718, 633.481, 633.491, 633.501, 633.511
BDR: 630.253, 630.255, 630.268, 630.275, 630.306, 630.336, 633.4254, 633.426, 633.433, 633.434, 633.438, 633.471, 633.4715, 633.4717, 633.4718, 633.481, 633.491, 633.501, 633.511