2016 Oklahoma Annual Book of Reports

2016 Oklahoma Nurses Association
Taxpayer Transparency Act – SB1342 by Treat and Newell requires OMES (Office of Management and
Enterprise Services) to modify the website required by the Taxpayer Transparency Act to allow the public to track
federal expenditures by Oklahoma state agencies. This measure goes into effect on January 1, 2017.
NURSING PROFESSION
Nurse Licensure Compact - HB2482 by Ownbey and Simpson provides that nurses who reside in Oklahoma
may obtain a multistate license. This will improve the nurse workforce in our state, increasing standards and
giving our nurses greater flexibility. This measure establishes fees and requirements for the multi-state license that
will be implemented upon initiation of the compact by the Oklahoma Board of Nursing. It provides that the initial
application for a multistate license will be $150 with a biennial renewal fee of $125. The bill further allows for the
OBN to reduce the biennial renewal fees on a pro rata basis for registered nurses and licensed practical nurses.
Multistate licensure for nurses will go into effect when at least 26 states have adopted the compact; that date is
anticipated to be until Dec. 31, 2018. Oklahoma is the seventh state to date to adopt the multistate compact. The
effective date of this bill is November 1, 2016.
Full Practice Authority - HB2841 by Rep. Echols sought to amend the nurse practice act. The bill provided that
the scope of an APRN may include, but not be limited to performing acts of assessment, diagnosing, prescribing,
and ordering non-pharmological interventions, including but not limited to durable medical equipment, medical
devices, nutrition, blood and blood products, and supportive services, including but not limited to home health
care, hospice and physical and occupational therapy. This measure further sought to allow for APRNs to serve
as primary care providers of record. HB2841 provided that APRNs would be expected to practice as licensed
practitioners under standards recognized and established by the OBN, with each APRN complying with the
requirements of the OBN and the Nurse Practice Act, and for consulting with and referring patients to other health
care providers as appropriate. Despite support from the nursing community, the House committee chair declined
to hear the measure before the deadline. The bill would have faced tremendous opposition in the Senate, even
if it had been given a hearing in the House committee. This measure will need not only grassroots support from
the nursing community, but vocal, visible and active support from local communities, hospitals, residents and the
press, in order to ultimately achieve passage.
HEALTH CARE ISSUES
Informed Medical Consent for Minors - HB 2518 – By Grau and Dahm stipulates specific exceptions for
required medical consent for minors. Exceptions are provided in the event of an emergency, if surgery is required,
and an effort has been made to reach a parent or authorized adult authorized with legal consent on behalf of said
minor. This measure goes into effect on November 1, 2016.
Legalized Marihuana Oil for Adults with Certain Medical Conditions - HB 2835 – by Echols and Yen
modifies the previous law (HB 2154, 2015) permitting the usage of marihuana oil solely for children with specific
medical conditions, by deleting the age limitation for “marijuana” and amending the term “qualifying patient” when
relating to cannabidiol (CBD) oil trials. HB 2835 now includes usage by individuals with spasticity due to multiple
sclerosis or paraplegia, intractable nausea and vomiting, or appetite stimulation with chronic wasting diseases to
be prescribed CBD oil by a clinician. This measure becomes effective on November 1, 2016.
Mammography Requirements - HB 2601 by Ritz and Brown mandates that all health care facilities performing
mammograms include information in the summary of the mammography report that identifies the patient’s
individual breast density classification based on the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System established by
the American College of Radiology. The bill further compels a specific notice if the provider determines that a
patient has extremely dense breast tissue. This measure goes into effect on November 1, 2016.
Organ Procurement - SB 1360 by Treat and Ownbey allows a hospital to adopt guidelines for the interaction
between organ procurement organizations and hospital staff. It states that nothing in the Oklahoma Uniform
Anatomical Gift Act may be construed to authorize an organ procurement organization to use coercion or
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