Psych NPs in PA - Collaborative Agreements

[ghillbert, MSN, NP]

Question out of interest for PMHNPs in Pennsylvania (or in general) - does your collaborating physician have to be in the same specialty ie. psychiatry? I checked the PA code and can find this link but nothing about that. 

http://www.pacodeandbulletin.gov/Display/pacode?file=/secure/pacode/data/049/chapter21/s21.251.html&d=reduce

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

PA regs do not specify specialty required for supervision; must be a PA licensed doc. Expectation is that physician can provide CONSULTATION in your practice specialty. Thus, a podiatrist, cardiologist or radiologist wouldn't be able to provide psych specific consultation. ?    You will need at least one substitute physician who will provide collaboration if the collaborating physician is unavailable.  You can have unlimited collaborating physicians, just need new agreement with each one who is not part of same practice (  both docs listed on same  practice agreement.)   Protect yourself from any problems with board, malpractice carrier if/when disgruntled patient issues complaint/suit.

"Written collaboration agreement required, and the agreement must be signed by both the NP and the physician and agree to the details of their collaboration. Pa. Code §49.21.251"

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iii)   A physician available to a CRNP on a regularly scheduled basis for referrals, review of the standards of medical practice incorporating consultation and chart review, drug and other medical protocols within the practice setting, periodic updating in medical diagnosis and therapeutics and cosigning records when necessary to document accountability by both parties.

 

§ 21.282a. CRNP Practice.

Sample Psych Collaborative Practice Agreement for Nurse Practitioner   PDF from https://nppsych.org/

 

Number of Nurse Practitioners Prescribing Buprenorphine

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As of August 2018, 184 NPs in Pennsylvania have received a federal waiver to treat opioid dependency with buprenorphine-containing products. Consistent with their prescriptive authority and with proper training or appropriate experience NPs can receive a federal waiver to dispense buprenorphine-containing products, as long as the supervising physician is certified, trained, or permitted to treat and manage patients with opioid use disorder. Pa. Code §49.21.284

Learn more about Number of Nurse Practitioners Prescribing Buprenorphine

IMPORTANT PROVISIONS OF THE CRNP REGULATIONS EFFECTIVE DECEMBER 12, 2009

Best wishes moving into this specialty.