Georgia Physicians: GCMB Offers Guidance on APRN Protocol Agreements

The Georgia Composite Medical Board recently published guidance on how House Bill (HB) 557 and HB 1046 will impact the process for advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) protocol agreements.

HB 557 provides additional authority to APRNs and physician assistants (PAs) and streamlines approval of APRN nurse protocol agreements and PA job descriptions. HB 1046 permits APRNs and PAs to sign death certificates and increases the number of APRNs or PAs with whom a physician may enter into a nurse protocol agreement or job description. Physicians may now maintain up to a combined total of eight protocol agreements or job descriptions at one time.

The Board’s guidance also acknowledges that there have been delays in processing APRN protocol agreements and encourages physicians and APRNs to ensure that they submit complete forms. In addition, to facilitate the process, APRN protocol registration forms can now be completed online.

The Board also proposed several rule updates in response to HB 557 and HB 1046 and is proposing to update the application process in response to Senate Bill (SB) 449. This bill streamlines the certification and licensing process for military medical personnel transitioning into civilian roles within the healthcare sector.