SB46 Alabama 2018 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Jim McClendon

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2018

Title

Health care providers, nurse practitioners and nurse midwives authorized to sign forms which may be signed by a physician

Summary

This bill lets certified nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, and physician assistants sign many health forms that currently require a physician's signature.

What This Bill Does

If enacted, forms within the signing professional's scope of practice would be treated as if signed by a physician. It covers a wide range of forms, including disability parking certifications, various employment and school physicals, birth certificates, do-not-resuscitate orders, workers' compensation and FMLA documents, diabetes-related and other medical supply authorizations, home health orders, Medicaid-related referrals, death certificates, ambulance transport forms, and more. It does not expand the overall scope of practice for these professionals. The act would take effect immediately after governor approval.

Who It Affects

• Certified registered nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, and physician assistants, who gain authority to sign forms within their practice.
• Patients, families, employers, schools, and state agencies that rely on those forms (e.g., disability parking, driver license documentation for diabetics, physicals for employment or education, birth certificates, DNR orders, and other listed forms) because signatures may come from these professionals instead of physicians.

Key Provisions

• Authorizes certified registered nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, and physician assistants to sign health care forms and documents within their scope of practice as if a physician signed them.
• Specifies numerous forms covered, including disability parking certifications, bus driver and school/employee physicals, DNR orders, birth certificates, workers' compensation and FMLA documents, durable medical equipment authorizations, diabetic supplies, home health recertification, Medicaid-related referrals, death certificates (one of two signatures), ambulance transport, donor breast milk, and other forms listed by the Joint Committee of the Alabama Board of Nursing and the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners.
• States that this authorization does not expand the overall scope of practice for these professionals.
• Provides that the act takes effect immediately following passage and governor’s approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Health