SF 373 (LSB 2137SV (3) 85)

SENATE FILE 373

BY  COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RESOURCES

(SUCCESSOR TO SSB 1132)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to licensure identification and display requirements and professional title and abbreviation restrictions for certain health-related professions and making penalties applicable.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 147.72, Code 2013, is amended to read as follows:
   147.72  Professional titles and abbreviations.
   1.
  a.  Any person licensed to practice a profession under this subtitle may append to the person’s name any recognized title or abbreviation, which the person is entitled to use, to designate the person’s particular profession, but no other person shall assume or use such title or abbreviation, and no licensee shall advertise in such a manner as to lead the public to believe that the licensee is engaged in the practice of any other profession than the one which the licensee is licensed to practice.
   b.  Any advertisement for services provided by a person licensed to practice a profession under this subtitle shall clearly identify the license held by the person advertising or providing services, consistent with this subtitle.
   2.  A board shall require any person licensed to practice a profession identified under section 147.74 to do the following when directly engaging a member of the public in a clinical setting in the practice of the person’s profession:
   a.  Wear a form of identification consistent with rules promulgated by each applicable board, except if wearing identification creates a safety or health risk, or in situations when voluntarily and gratuitously responding to a need for health care created by an emergency or a state or local disaster. The rules shall establish uniform minimum standards for identification. Minimum standards shall include prominent display of the professional title and abbreviation of the licensee as set forth in section 147.74.
   b.  If wearing identification creates a safety or health risk, or in situations when voluntarily and gratuitously responding to a need for health care created by an emergency or a state or local disaster, the licensee shall verbally disclose the license the licensee holds.
   3.  Persons licensed pursuant to section 148.5 shall also comply with the requirements of subsection 2 of this section consistent with rules adopted by the board of medicine.
   4.  Failure of a licensee to comply with the requirements set forth in subsection 2 and the rules adopted thereunder may constitute a basis for board action against the licensee.
    Sec. 2.  Section 147.74, subsection 21, Code 2013, is amended to read as follows:
   21.  An advanced registered nurse practitioner practicing pursuant to rules adopted by the board and licensed as a registered nurse under chapter 152 may use the words “advanced registered nurse practitioner” or the letters “A.R.N.P.” after the person’s name. A registered nurse licensed under chapter 152 may use the words “registered nurse” or the letters “R.N.” after the person’s name. A licensed practical nurse licensed under chapter 152 may use the words “licensed practical nurse” or the letters “L.P.N.” after the person’s name.
EXPLANATION
   This bill makes changes relating to licensure identification and display and to professional title and abbreviation restrictions for certain health-related professions.
   The bill requires that any advertisement for services provided by a person licensed in a health-related profession clearly identify the license held by the person advertising or providing services.
   The bill requires persons licensed in health-related professions whose professional title and abbreviation is designated by Code section 147.74 to wear a form of identification based on standards promulgated by rule by each applicable licensing board unless wearing the identification creates a safety or health risk or if the person is responding gratuitously to an emergency or disaster. The bill also provides that this requirement applies to resident physicians licensed under Code section 148.5.
   The bill also authorizes an advanced registered nurse practitioner to use the words “advanced registered nurse practitioner” or the acronym “A.R.N.P.”. Current law provides that a person who fails to properly use the designations specified in statute is guilty of a simple misdemeanor. A simple misdemeanor is punishable by confinement for no more than 30 days or a fine of at least $65 but not more than $625 or both.