Scope of Practice
In response to the COVID-19 public health emergency, states have taken measures to alleviate the occupational licensure policy burdens that impede state response efforts and which are counterintuitive to social distancing practices. The following information presents a collection of policy actions states have implemented to expand the scope of practice of practitioners.
Given the increased healthcare workforce demands imposed by COVID-19, many states have expanded the authority of practitioners to augment the availability of services. These modifications to a scope of practice allow licensed practitioners to perform services not typically included in the state’s practice act.
Click to view each state’s actions
Alaska
- Senate Bill 241 – Allows the Commissioner of the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development may take actions regulating the scope and duration of any license, permit, or certificate issued under the applicable section of the legislation.
- Health Mandate 15 – Allows unlicensed assistive personnel to be included in service delivery for routine health care services, non-urgent/non-emergent elective surgeries and procedures, and urgent/emergent elective surgeries and procedures. Licensing boards can determine if individual health care provider types can safely perform the services.
California
- EO N-25-20 – The Director of the Emergency Medical Services Authority has the authority to implement additions to local optional scopes of practice without first consulting with a committee of local EMS medical directors.
- EO N-55-20 – Welfare and Institutions Codes are suspended to the extent they would restrict DHCS from granting Short Term Residential Treatment Programs, Special Treatment Programs, Psychiatric Health Facilities, Mental Health Rehabilitation Centers, Community Treatment Facilities, Community Residential Treatment Systems/Social Rehabilitation Programs and Psychiatric Health Facilities flexibility related to staffing requirements, and to the extent they would restrict DHCS from suspending on-site program reviews.
Colorado
- EO D 2020 038 – Ordering the Temporary Suspension of Certain Statutes and Rules to Expand the Healthcare Workforce for Hospitals and Other Inpatient Treatment Facilities Due to the Presence of COVID-19. Executive Director of DORA, through the Director of the Division of Professions and Occupations (DPO), to promulgate and issue temporary emergency rules to permit the licensed professionals listed below to cross train, supervise, and delegate responsibilities concerning the temporary care and treatment of patients to the professionals listed in Section II.B. I temporarily suspend the following statutory and regulatory scope of practice limitations to permit the licensed professionals listed in Section II.A., above, to cross train, supervise, and delegate responsibilities concerning the temporary care and treatment of patients to the professionals listed below:
- EO D 2020 063 – Extending EO D 2020 038
- EO D 2020 097 – Extending EO D 2020 038 and EO D 2020 063
- EO D 2020 131 – Extending EO D 2020 038, EO D 2020 063, and EO D 2020 097
Kansas
- EO 20-26 – Suspends any and all provisions relating to supervision, delegation and related issues by healthcare providers that are licensed, registered or certified and ancillary workers.
- EO 20-28 – Extends EO 20-26; All entities or individuals referenced in K.S.A. 48-915, are authorized to making triage decisions and rendering assistance, testing, care or advice in the care of patients reasonably suspected or confirmed to be infected with COVID-19 and shall be deemed immune from suit pursuant to K.S.A. 48-915.
Massachusetts
- Department of Public Health Order – Expands the scope of practice for APRNs to those specific functions designated to physicians only.
- Order, Commissioner of Public Health, Expanded Practice – Expands the scope of practice for APRNs to those specific functions designated to physicians only.
- Order, Commissioner of Public Health, Expanded Practice – RN who hold authorization from the Board of Registration in nursing may engage in prescriptive practice.
- Order, Commissioner of Public Health, Expanded Practice – registered nurses authorized by the Board of Registration in Nursing (BORN) pursuant to M.G.L. c. 112, §. 80B, who hold certification in the field of psychiatric mental health from a BORN recognized certifying organization or its equivalent approved and designated by BORN. Specifically, such advanced practice registered nurses shall have the same authority as qualified physicians to provide services pursuant to M.G.L. c. 123, §§. 4, 11, 12 and 21.
Michigan
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- Executive Order 2020-61 – Suspends provisions relating to scope of practice to the extent that expansion will help provide necessary medical services at a facility.
- Executive Order 2020-104 – A licensee holding one of the following license types may establish and administer a COVID-19 testing service without an additional state license or permit at any site, with permission from the person with the right to occupy and exclude others from the property.
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New York
- EO 202 – Allows unlicensed non-nursing staff to perform basic nursing tasks incl. swabs/tests
- EO 202.1 – Allows physicians and nurse practitioners to issue non-patient-specific regimens to those authorized by law or executive order to conduct swabs/tests
- EO 202.10 – Allows physician assistants, specialist assistants, nurse practitioners, professional nurses and practical nurses to exceed the normal bounds of their practice; Allows pharmacy technicians to perform duties beyond the usual scope of their licenses.
Pennsylvania
- PA Dept of State Waiver – Temporarily waives requirements for pharmacists. Clarifies that proof of prescription receipt is not required. Fully licensed pharmacy practitioners are authorized to carry out Covid-19 testing including ordering, testing, and communicating results.
- PA Dept of State Waiver – Physicians previously were limited to supervising 4 physicians assistants, however this ratio requirement has been suspended. The requirement is suspended that temporary authorization to practice as a physician assistants be issued for up to 120 days upon board receipt of a complete written agreement. The requirement that the board must approve the use of a physician assistant at “satellite operations” is suspended.
Washington
- Proclamation 20-32 – Waives requirements of physician assistants’ practice agreements that limit PA mobility.
- Dept. of Health Emergency Rule 20-10-014 – Allows licensed practical nurse (LPN) students to practice as nursing technicians.
- Dept. of Health Emergency Rule 20-12-075 – Includes physician assistants among the practitioners authorized to order home health services and to sign plans of care.