441—78.40 (249A) Advanced registered nurse practitioners. Payment shall be approved for services provided by advanced registered nurse practitioners within their scope of practice and the limitations of state law, with the exception of services not payable to physicians under rule 441—78.1(249A) or otherwise not payable under any other applicable rule.
	 78.40(1) Direct payment. Payment shall be made to advanced registered nurse practitioners directly, without regard to whether the advanced registered nurse practitioner is employed by or associated with a physician, hospital, birth center, clinic or other health care provider recognized under state law. An established protocol between a physician and the advanced registered nurse practitioner shall not cause an advanced registered nurse practitioner to be considered auxiliary personnel of a physician, or an employee of a hospital, birth center, or clinic.
	 78.40(2) Location of service. Payment shall be approved for services rendered in any location in which the advanced registered nurse practitioner is legally authorized to provide services under state law. The nurse practitioner shall have promptly available the necessary equipment and personnel to handle emergencies.
	 78.40(3) Utilization review. Utilization review shall be conducted of Medicaid members who access more than 24 outpatient visits in any 12-month period from physicians, advanced registered nurse practitioners, other clinics, and emergency rooms. Refer to rule 441—76.9(249A) for further information concerning the member lock-in program.
	 78.40(4) Vaccine administration. Vaccines available through the Vaccines for Children program under Section 1928 of the Social Security Act are not covered services. Advanced registered nurse practitioners who wish to administer those vaccines to Medicaid members shall enroll in the Vaccines for Children program and obtain the vaccines from the department of public health. Advanced registered nurse practitioners shall receive reimbursement for the administration of vaccines to Medicaid members.
	 78.40(5) Prenatal risk assessment. Risk assessment, using Form 470-2942, Medicaid Prenatal Risk Assessment, shall be completed at the initial visit during a Medicaid member's pregnancy.
	  a.   	 If the risk assessment reflects a low-risk pregnancy, the assessment shall be completed again at approximately the twenty-eighth week of pregnancy.
	  b.   	 If the risk assessment reflects a high-risk pregnancy, referral shall be made for enhanced services. (See description of enhanced services at subrule 78.25(3).)
This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code section 249A.4.