SENATE FILE _____

BY  (PROPOSED COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RESOURCES BILL BY CHAIRPERSON RAGAN)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to the licensed professionals authorized to prescribe respiratory care services.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 152B.2, subsection 1, paragraph a, subparagraph (2), Code 2011, is amended to read as follows:
   (2)  Direct and indirect respiratory care services, including but not limited to, the administration of pharmacological and diagnostic and therapeutic agents related to respiratory care procedures necessary to implement a treatment, disease prevention, pulmonary rehabilitative, or diagnostic regimen prescribed by a licensed physician, or surgeon, physician assistant, or advanced registered nurse practitioner.
    Sec. 2.  Section 152B.2, subsection 1, paragraph b, Code 2011, is amended to read as follows:
   b.  “Respiratory care as a practice” does not include the delivery, assembly, setup, testing, or demonstration of respiratory care equipment in the home upon the order of a licensed physician, physician assistant, or advanced registered nurse practitioner. As used in this paragraph, “demonstration” does not include the actual teaching, administration, or performance of the respiratory care procedures.
    Sec. 3.  Section 152B.2, subsection 2, Code 2011, is amended to read as follows:
   2.  “Respiratory care protocols” as used in this section means policies and procedures developed by an organized health care system through consultation, when appropriate, with administrators, licensed physicians and surgeons,
 
licensed physician assistants, licensed registered nurses, licensed physical therapists, licensed respiratory care practitioners, and other licensed health care practitioners.
    Sec. 4.  Section 152B.3, subsection 1, unnumbered paragraph 1, Code 2011, is amended to read as follows:
   The performance of respiratory care shall be in accordance with the prescription of a licensed physician, or surgeon, physician assistant, or advanced registered nurse practitioner and includes but is not limited to the diagnostic and therapeutic use of the following:
    Sec. 5.  Section 152B.3, subsection 2, Code 2011, is amended to read as follows:
   2.  A respiratory care practitioner may transcribe and implement a written or verbal order from a licensed physician, or surgeon, physician assistant, or advanced registered nurse practitioner pertaining to the practice of respiratory care.
    Sec. 6.  Section 152B.4, Code 2011, is amended to read as follows:
   152B.4  Location of respiratory care.
   The practice of respiratory care may be performed in a hospital as defined in section 135B.1, subsection 3, and other settings where respiratory care is to be provided in accordance with a prescription of a licensed physician, or surgeon, physician assistant, or advanced registered nurse practitioner. Respiratory care may be provided during transportation of a patient and under circumstances where an emergency necessitates respiratory care.
EXPLANATION
   Respiratory care is a licensed profession that, under current law, must be prescribed by a licensed physician or surgeon. This bill allows licensed physician assistants and licensed advanced registered nurse practitioners to prescribe respiratory care.