Lawmakers in New Jersey this week opted against moving forward with legislation that would have allowed advanced practice registered nurses (APRNS) to prescribe without any physician oversight. The legislation (Senate bill 1961 and the identical Assembly bill 854) would have also given APRNs full signatory authority, meaning they could have signed off on any document requiring a physician signature by law.

The New Jersey Senate’s health committee moved the bill to the floor in June 2019, but the state’s physicians were able to persuade lawmakers against taking up the bill to weaken the physician-led health care team during the 2018–2019 legislative session that closed Monday. Most states do not allow APRNs to prescribe independently.

My latest at the AMA. The whole shebang.