Chairlady Cooper urges approval of ketamine-clinic rule substitute, citing patient safety

Chairlady Cooper presented a rule substitute to House Bill 717 on committee day, saying the changes were developed with input from nurses, ethicists and physicians and were intended to prioritize patient safety. "This is the ketamine clinic bill," Cooper said, and described provisions that would allow physicians and nurse anesthetists to own clinics outright while creating standards for staffing and continuing education.

The substitute removes prior ownership caps and explicitly allows physicians and certified nurse anesthetists to have 100% ownership, Cooper said, and establishes a pathway for experienced nurse practitioners to work in clinics under specified requirements. "We have an agreement, should this make it to the floor," she added, saying practitioners and ethicists supported the substitute.

Supporters framed the changes as safety-focused: the presenter said the substitute sets continuing-education requirements for all clinicians working in such clinics and anticipates that owners will hire qualified staff to operate services. The chair asked for a motion to accept the rule substitute (LC 600332S); a motion and second were recorded and, after no member voiced opposition, the chair announced the substitute had been accepted.

The committee did not take final floor action on the bill during the meeting; the substitute was approved for the committee process and the item was placed on the committee calendar for further consideration the following day.