Health occupations omnibus advances; APRN transition-to-practice amendment withdrawn after debate

Senate File 32-98, a health-related occupations omnibus bill, was heard and amended in the Finance Committee on May 1. Senator Wiklendt presented the bill as a package combining ten bills that update licensure and practice rules for multiple professions, including music therapy, massage and Asian bodywork, athletic trainers, mortuary science, physician assistants, social workers, dentistry, marriage and family therapy, pharmacy, and clarifications to physical-therapy supervision language.

Sponsor Senator Wiklendt said additions to the author's amendment were negotiated with stakeholders and clarified that updates to physical-therapy supervision language modernize statutory terms without expanding supervision ratios. The chief author explained the measure is intended to bring statutes into alignment with education, licensure and team-based practice standards.

Senator Pappas offered A8 to repeal the transition-to-practice requirement for nurse practitioners and certified nurse specialists that currently requires newly certified APRNs to complete 2,080 hours of practice in a supervised setting employing a physician. Advocates for removing the requirement argued it imposes unnecessary cost and administrative burden and deters APRNs from practicing in rural or underserved areas; opponents, including Senator Wiklendt and others, said the requirement emerged from earlier compromises intended to protect patients and ensure appropriate transition, and asked for more negotiation with the Minnesota Medical Association and the Board of Nursing.

APRN coalition president Carrie Johnson and other supporters said the board of nursing had not opposed the change in recent meetings and that APRNs are prepared to practice at the top of their training. Senator Pappas withdrew the A8 amendment to allow more discussion; Senator Wiklendt said she would continue engagements with stakeholders and seek clarified positions from the Board of Nursing. The committee recommended SF 32-98, as amended, to pass.

Lawmakers said they value careful stakeholder negotiation on scope-of-practice changes and encouraged continued talks on APRN transition issues ahead of floor consideration.