House Bill No. 2298 seeks to expand the prescriptive authority of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) in Oklahoma by allowing qualified APRNs to prescribe medications independently without the need for physician supervision. To qualify for this independent authority, APRNs must have a minimum of three years of supervised practice with prescriptive authority and must apply to the Oklahoma Board of Nursing. The bill outlines the application process, including approval and denial procedures, and establishes requirements for malpractice insurance coverage. It also mandates the Board to create rules regarding advertising for healthcare services, ensuring that APRNs operate within their authorized scope of practice while maintaining compliance with state laws.

The legislation amends existing laws, particularly the Oklahoma Pharmacy Act and the Oklahoma Nursing Practice Act, to redefine terms related to prescriptive authority and clarify the roles of various healthcare professionals, including Certified Nurse Practitioners and Clinical Nurse Specialists. Key changes include the removal of the requirement for APRNs to operate under the supervision of a licensed practitioner, the establishment of a Formulary Advisory Council to recommend an exclusionary formulary of drugs that cannot be prescribed by APRNs, and the requirement for the Council to review the formulary annually. The bill aims to enhance the role of APRNs in patient care while ensuring patient safety and regulatory compliance, with the act set to take effect on November 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 59-353.1
Sub Committee OR Policy Committee Recommendations (House) Policy Committee Recommendation: 59-353.1, 59-567.5a