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Committee advances limited APRN prescribing bill with nursing‑board rulemaking commitment
Summary
The committee passed HB 12‑67 to permit limited APRN prescriptive authority for certain controlled medications with a one‑time five‑day opioid limit and other safeguards; the State Board of Nursing said its rules will mirror medical‑board safeguards and clarify the one‑time 5‑day limit.
Senator Hammer presented HB 12‑67, a brief bill extending narrowly defined prescriptive authority to advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) for a limited set of controlled drugs under conditions designed to reduce abuse and preserve physician oversight.
The bill text limits opioid prescriptions written by APRNs to five days or less and allows stimulants only if originally initiated by a physician who examined the patient within the prior six months. Senator Hammer said the restrictions are intended to align with efforts to address opioid addiction and the five‑day limit is a commonly agreed standard for short post‑procedure prescriptions.
Committee members pressed for clarity on whether the five‑day authority could be repeated; Fred Dunn, general counsel for the Arkansas State Board of Nursing, said the nursing board has adopted rules parallel to the medical board for hydrocodone‑containing medications and will mirror CMS and medical‑board requirements. David Roten (Arkansas Medical Society) and board representatives told the committee the intent and a nursing‑board rulemaking commitment make clear the APRN would be allowed a one‑time, maximum five‑day prescription to bridge care until the patient can see the physician.
The committee moved and passed HB 12‑67; a nursing‑board rules process was referenced as the vehicle for detailed operational safeguards.
Noted direct quote in committee: David Roten said, “it is a one time 5 day prescription, maximum of 5 days. The intent is that that's a onetime deal.” The transcript records committee passage but the detailed, final rule language will come through nursing‑board rulemaking.
