Arkansas Administrative Code
Agency 007 - Arkansas Department of Health
Division 34 - Arkansas Board of Nursing
Rule 007.34.22-007 - Proposed Chapter 11- Full Independent Practice Credentialing Committee

Universal Citation: AR Admin Rules 007.34.22-007

Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 9, September, 2024

SECTION I PURPOSE & AUTHORITY

A. PURPOSE - The purpose of the Full Independent Practice Credentialing Committee is to:
1. Review and act on applications for full independent practice authority submitted by Certified Nurse Practitioners and

2. Review and act on complaints filed against Certified Nurse Practitioners who have full independent practice authority.

B. LEGAL AUTHORITY - The authority of the Full Independent Practice Authority Committee is pursuant to Ark. Code Ann. § 17-87-314, et seq.

SECTION II GENERAL MATTERS

A. DEFINITION OF TERMS
1. Full Independent Practice Authority: the ability of a Certified Nurse Practitioner to practice with prescriptive authority without a collaborative practice agreement as described in Ark. Code Ann. § 17-87-310.

2. Prescriptive Authority: the ability to receive and prescribe drugs, medicines, or therapeutic devices appropriate to the advanced practice registered nurse's area of practice.

3. Certified Nurse Practitioner: a registered nurse who has successfully completed a nationally accredited graduate or post-graduate APRN education program that prepares nurses for the advanced practice role of nurse practitioner, is nationally certified in the population foci appropriate to the educational preparation and licensed at the advanced practice level.

B. MEETING
1. The Committee shall meet at least quarterly and shall have the power to call and hold special meetings at such times and places as it deems necessary.

2. Five members shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the Committee.

C. MEMBERS

The Committee shall be comprised of eight members appointed according to ACA 17-87-314 who may serve up to two 3-year terms, or until successor is appointed.

D. OFFICERS
1. The Committee shall elect a Chair, and a Vice-Chair.

2. Officers may serve no more than two consecutive 1-year terms.

3. Powers & Duties of the Chair:
a. Sign subpoenas,

b. Administer oaths,

c. Authenticate all notices and other actions of the Committee, and

d. Issue notices of hearings and other processes and as directed by the Committee

4. The Vice-Chair shall assume all duties and privileges of the Chair in the absence of the Chair.

E. DUTIES
1. Review all applications, initial or renewal, for full independent practice authority submitted by Certified Nurse Practitioners licensed by the Arkansas State Board of Nursing.

2. Approve or deny applications for full independent practice authority.
a. All actions shall be provided, in writing, to the applicant.

b. Denial of an application shall include the reason(s) for denial.

3. Review complaints filed in writing against Certified Nurse Practitioners with full independent practice authority.
a. The Committee shall review complaints against Certified Nurse Practitioners who hold a certificate of full independent practice authority.

b. The Committee may take action, suspend or revoke the certificate for full independent practice authority based on the complaint; however, the Committee may not take action against the nursing license of a certified nurse practitioner.

c. All complaints and actions shall be reported to the Arkansas State Board of Nursing.

F. HEARINGS
1. Hearings will be conducted when the Committee takes action to suspend or revoke the certificate of full independent practice authority.

2. Hearings will be conducted according to the Arkansas Administrative Procedures Act.

3. The Certified Nurse Practitioner will be provided ten (10) days' notice, in writing, to appear before the Full Independent Practice Credentialing Committee.

G. APPEAL

If a Certified Nurse Practitioner's certificate of full independent practice authority is denied, suspended, or revoked they may appeal the action of the Committee under the Arkansas Administrative Procedure Act, § 25-15-201.

H. REPORTS

A quarterly report will be provided to the Senate Committee on Public Health, Welfare and Labor and the House Committee on Public Health, Welfare and Labor. The report will contain, at a minimum, the number of applicants approved and denied a certificate of independent practice authority.

SECTION III QUALIFICATIONS FOR FULL INDEPENDENT PRACTICE AUTHORITY

A. INITIAL
1. Submission of an application for full independent practice authority.

2. Submission of two (2) letters of recommendation.

3. Hold an active unencumbered Arkansas Certified Nurse Practitioner license.

4. Hold an unencumbered prescriptive authority certificate or equivalent in the state of licensure.

5. Submission of documentation showing a minimum of 6,240 hours of practice under a collaborative practice agreement. Such documentation shall include:
a. An affidavit from a collaborating physician attesting to the number of hours the Certified Nurse Practitioner practiced under a collaborative practice agreement with the physician. Multiple attestations are acceptable.; or

b. Other evidence of meeting the qualifications for full independent practice and an affidavit signed by the nurse practitioner, in the event a collaborating physician has died, become disabled, retired, relocated to another state, or any other circumstance that inhibits the ability of the nurse practitioner from obtaining an affidavit.
i. Other evidence may include employment records, military service, Medicare or Medicaid reimbursement records, or other similar records that verify clinical practice in the population foci for which the nurse practitioner is licensed and certified.

ii. The burden shall be on the nurse practitioner to provide sufficient evidence to support the nurse practitioner's inability to obtain an affidavit from a collaborating physician.

6. Submission of any other relevant documents requested by the Committee in support of application.

B. RENEWAL
1. The Certificate for full independent practice authority shall be renewed every three years by submitting the required application and corresponding fee.

2. Renewal applicants must hold an active unencumbered Arkansas Certified Nurse Practitioner license.

SECTION IV FEES

A. The Committee shall establish fees for services relating to application for full independent practice authority and renewal of the full independent practice certificate.
1. The initial application fee shall be $150.00.

2. The certificate renewal fee shall be $50.00.

3. All funds received shall be deposited in the State Treasury to the credit of the Committee.

4. Fees paid shall be by credit card.

5. Fees paid are processing fees and are not refundable.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Arkansas may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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