DE DCNP Legislative Update 2022-2024
Posted 9 months ago by Susan Conaty-Buck
Dear DCNP Members:
The 2022-24 Legislative Session resulted in the passage of over 800 bills, many including healthcare and nursing issues. Your volunteer DCNP Advocacy Team monitored all of these bills and advised the DCNP Board of Directors on providing responses and made testimony when the legislation impacted the work of the Delaware Nurse Practitioner.
The attached table lists many bills of interest to Nurse Practitioners. Each bill is attached to a link where you can examine each bill more closely. It is also important to note that not all of these bills passed this session - sometimes they were voted down in committees, and sometimes they did not advance because there was a need for more discussion before a vote. As you review the table, look at the column on the right which provides the statute of the bill as of 8.15.24. Bills marked as Passed have been passed in the Legislature and are awaiting review and signing by the Governor which needs to be done by the end of his term in November. Bills that have been signed become law as noted in the legislation.
Some bill titles are highlighted in Red. Please look at these titles as these new soon-to-be laws may impact your practice. NPs are required to maintain current knowledge and competence with all laws associated with the practice of nursing and advanced practice nursing.
Please take specific note of the following:
HB15, HB 302, and HB 253: all relate to required insurance coverage for testing for cancers
HB 195: DMOST Revisions for Scope of Treatment Declaration
HB 284: Medical Marijuana: changes prescribed conditions for prescribing and allows more patient self-determination of need for this treatment.
SB 195: and 272: Allows pharmacists to prescribe various medications.
SB 248: Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program
HB 140: End-of-life Options. This did pass in both chambers - now we are awaiting the governor's decision to sign or veto the bill. He could also decide to allow the bill to pass without his signature. DCNP will let you know the status of this bill when known.
HB 223: Continuing Education for Nursing Professionals (note – this requirement for CE replaces last year’s requirement for CE on Alzheimer’s disease).
HB314: Driver’s License allows NPs to sign for restoration of driving privileges for patients who experienced an LOC.
Several bills which did not pass:
HB 447: Healthcare Professional Title Transparency: DCNP helped to develop this bill which would require ALL doctorally prepared clinicians to provide patients with explanation of their academic preparation in all patient communication. This bill was not brought forward to allow time for all stakeholders to provide more comments. While AMA has spent more then one million dollars to stop doctorally prepared APRNs from using the title Dr., DCNP continues to work with all groups to ensure those doctorally prepared NP who wish to use their Dr. credential can do so without fear of legal challenge. Regardless of this work, the Delaware Board of Nursing has requested all doctorally prepared nurses who want to use the Dr. credential when providing patient care to make sure to use full credentials, including APRN when the name is visible in print and are advised to introduce themselves as “Dr. Smith, Family Nurse Practitioner.” The BON has cautioned a few doctorally prepared NPs who ran print ads in newspapers without noting they are APRNs.
HB 136: Preceptor Tax Credit. Despite a strong acceptance by a House Committee, this bill did not go forward due to concern for state finances as well as discussion if a tax credit was the best way to recognize preceptor contributions. This topic continues to be under discussion and DCNP continues to request consideration of this need. Please make sure to discuss this need with your legislators when you see them.
SB10: The Delaware Pre-Authorization Reform Act of 2023 bill was intended to change a number of the challenges patients and providers face providing care when prior authorizations are mandated. This bill was requested by the Delaware Medical Society and DCNP also recognized the benefit of such legislation and supported this bill. Although the bill was written, it never got heard by a committee - insiders say the insurance companies protested this bill. DCNP will continue to request consideration of legislation on this important topic.
Please note the table provided and the notes above are only for DCNP Full and Student members and are not to be reproduced or shared with non-members. This work is one of the many benefits you receive as a DCNP member, and we ask you to encourage other NPs to join DCNP because there is strength in numbers.
Please email DCNP delawarenpcoalition@gmail.com if you have any questions about any of these bills. We will continue to update the list as the Governor signs these bills.