Assembly Bill 890 (Wood), signed into law in September 2020, created two new classifications of nurse practitioners (NPs) - 103 and 104 NPs – who, in California, can perform certain functions without standardized procedures and protocols. The regulations implementing the bill were approved by the Office of Administrative Law and became effective January 1, 2023. CAFP along with CMA sent a letter to the Board of Registered Nursing regarding requirements for referrals and consultations, prior practice hours, and a supplemental examination. CAFP also sent a letter to the Board commenting on their proposed regulations. The final regulations set the minimum standards for the law’s "transition to practice" requirements for NPs seeking to apply for licensure under these classifications. The final regulations also include provisions CAFP advocated for, which is to require 104 NPs to have a written protocol for consultation and a written plan for referrals that shall be made available to patients on request. If the written plan calls for referrals to a specific physician, the plan must include that physician’s acknowledgment and consent to the referrals. It is important to note that NPs can elect, but are not required, to transition to these new classifications.
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