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An Act To Amend the Laws Governing Nursing Facilities To Permit Nurse Practitioners, Clinical Nurse Specialists and Physician Assistants To Perform Certain Physician Tasks
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  22 MRSA §1812-L  is enacted to read:
§ 1812-L. Performance of certain tasks by physicians and others
 
1.  Performance of certain tasks for residents receiving skilled nursing facility services.     For a nursing facility resident receiving skilled nursing facility level services:
 
A.  The initial comprehensive visit through which a plan of care is developed for the resident and every alternate required visit thereafter must be performed by a physician;
 
B.  The alternate required visits not performed by a physician may be performed, without requiring a physician's cosignature, by a physician assistant, nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist who is licensed or certified as such by the State and performing within the authorized scope of practice;
 
C.  Medically necessary visits may be performed, without requiring a physician's cosignature, by a physician assistant, nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist who is licensed or certified as such by the State and performing within the authorized scope of practice; and
 
D.  Certifications and recertifications to verify that the resident requires daily skilled nursing care or rehabilitation services may be performed by a physician assistant, nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist who is licensed or certified as such by the State and performing within the authorized scope of practice and who is not employed by the facility and who is working in collaboration with a physician.
 
2.  Performance of certain tasks for residents receiving nursing facility services.     For a nursing facility resident receiving nursing facility level services, a physician assistant, nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist who is licensed or certified as such by the State and performing within the authorized scope of practice and who is not employed by the facility and who is working in collaboration with a physician may perform any physician task, including but not limited to:
 
A.  The resident's initial comprehensive visit;
 
B.  Any other required visit; and
 
C.  Any medically necessary visit.
 
SUMMARY
This bill provides that, in accordance with federal regulations:
1. For nursing home residents receiving skilled nursing facility level services, a physician assistant, nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist may provide medically necessary visits, certifications and recertifications and required visits that alternate with those performed by a physician; and
2. For nursing home residents receiving nursing facility level services, a physician assistant, nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist may perform any physician task.