An Act To Permit Nurse Practitioners To Perform the Functions of School Physicians
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §6402-A, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 258, §2, is amended to read:
§ 6402-A. School physician or family or pediatric nurse practitioner
Each school board shall appoint one or more school physicians or family or pediatric nurse practitioners.
1. Duties. The school physician or family or pediatric nurse practitioner shall advise the administrative unit on school health issues, policies and practices and may also perform any other health-related functions assigned by the board.
2. Other functions. A school physician or family or pediatric nurse practitioner may perform other medical and health-related duties assigned by the school board , which may include all or some of the following:
A. Examine and diagnose students referred by teachers and other school employees to protect against the outbreak of contagious diseases in the schools;
B. Examine students for participation in physical education and athletic activities;
C. Advise and serve as medical consultant to the school nurse; or
D. Examine school employees and property if the physician or family or pediatric nurse practitioner believes it is necessary to protect the health of students.
3. Prohibition. A school physician or family or pediatric nurse practitioner may not treat any student examined under this subchapter unless the physician or family or pediatric nurse practitioner is also the student's personal physician health care provider.
4. Appointment. Appointment shall be is on a yearly basis.
Sec. 2. 22 MRSA §451, sub-§6, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 462, §1, is amended to read:
6. Duties. Local health officers may be employed on a part-time or full-time basis. The offices of local health officer and town or school physician or family or pediatric nurse practitioner may be combined when, in the opinion of the municipal officers, the health needs of the public would be better served.
summary
This bill allows a family or pediatric nurse practitioner to serve as a health care provider in a school.