2021 West Virginia Code
Chapter 30. Professions and Occupations
Article 7. Registered Professional Nurses
§30-7-15e. Joint Advisory Council on Limited Prescriptive Authority
(a) On July 1, 2016, there is created the Joint Advisory Council on Limited Prescriptive Authority. The purpose of the Council is to advise the board regarding collaborative agreements and prescriptive authority for advanced practice registered nurses.
(b) The Governor shall appoint:
(1) Two allopathic physicians as recommended by the Board of Medicine who are in a collaborative relationship with advanced practice registered nurses;
(2) Two osteopathic physicians who are in active collaborative relationships as recommended by the Board of Osteopathic Medicine who are in a collaborative relationship with advanced practice registered nurses;
(3) Six advanced practice registered nurses as recommended by the Board of Examiners for Registered Professional Nurses who have at least three years full-time practice experience, and shall include at least one certified nurse practitioner, one certified nurse-midwife, and one certified registered nurse anesthetist, all of whom actively prescribe prescription drugs;
(4) One licensed pharmacist as recommended by the Board of Pharmacy;
(5) One consumer representative; and
(6) One representative from a school of public health of an institution of higher education.
(c) All members of the Council who are healthcare providers shall have at least three years full-time practice experience and hold active state licenses.
(d) Each member shall serve for a term of three years. The Governor shall stagger the terms so that no more than five appointments shall expire annually. Prior to the election of a chairman, the board shall be called together by the representative from a school of public health of an institution of higher education.
(e) A majority of members appointed to the Council shall constitute a quorum to conduct official business.
(f) The Council shall choose its own chairman and shall meet at the call of the chairman at least biannually.
(g) The Council may perform the following duties:
(1) Review and evaluate applications for advanced practice registered nurses to prescribe without a collaborative agreement;
(2) Assist advanced practice registered nurses with entering into collaborative agreements in non-emergency situations, including providing the contact information for physicians with whom the advanced practice registered nurses may collaborate;
(3) Advise the board in emergency situations of a rescinded collaborative agreement, giving a sixty day grace period;
(4) Assist the board in developing and proposing emergency rules;
(5) Review and advise on complaints against advanced practice registered nurses;
(6) Develop pilot project allowing independent prescribing of controlled substances by advanced practice registered nurses and study results to assure patient/public safety;
(7) Develop other studies and/or pilot projects, including but not limited to:
(A) Issues of access, outcomes and cost effectiveness of services;
(B) The development of recommendations for reciprocity;
(C) The optimal length of time for transition into independent prescribing; and
(D) Methods to foster effective interprofessional communication.
