HB 883 has passed one committee to allow Psych NPs autonomous practice. Long way to go. Need letters - SB 758 and HB 883.

3/14/2025

SB 758 and SB 250. Submitted by Senator Cory Simon 

 Senator Corey Simon (R). District 3 which includes Tallahassee. 

• S 250 Prescriptive Authority Certification for Psychologists
  Last Action: 1/29/2025 Referred to Health Policy; Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services; Fiscal Policy. 3/4 – Introduced to the Senate? – not sure what this means.
• S 758 Autonomous Practice by Certain Psychiatric Nurses
  Last Action: 2/13/2025 Filed

2/25 -  Referred to Health Policy; Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services; Rules

 

HB 883  -  GENERAL BILL by Shoaf

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Autonomous Practice; Authorizes certain advanced practice registered nurses to engage in autonomous practice to provide mental health services

   https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/883

2/21/25 – Filed in the House.

3/2/25 – Referred to Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee; Health and Human Services Committee. Now in Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee. 

3/4/25 – Introduced.

3/13 – Passed in Health Professions and Programms Subcommittee 14 yes/3 nos.

   Now in Health and Human Services Committee https://www.flhouse.gov/Sections/Committees/committeesdetail.aspx?CommitteeId=3294

Click on each member. Conact member and then you can send an email.

 

 

 

Call to Action: 

All NPs and their colleagues and families. Reach out to your local senators and representatives and the members of the Health Policy committee and the Healthcare Regulation Subcommittee. We need everyone to contact FL legislators. Please call first and then send an email. When you click on the links below, you will see the legislator names. Click on those links and there are phone numbers listed, and a button to send an email. 

 

This is URGENT as the bills are moving into committees and will be voted on soon. 

 

Below is a template. Please personalize the yellow highlighted areas as appropriate and then remove the highlighted color! Thank you. 

 

Please CALL and SEND emails to your local senators and representatives and to the committees below. You can email directly through the senate website when you click on each name.

 

Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services

https://www.flsenate.gov/Committees/Show/AHS/

 

Senators on the Committee of Health Policy. https://www.flsenate.gov/Committees/Show/HP?pref=full

 

Senator Joe Gruters is the Senator for Sarasota/Manatee and is the chair for the Committee on Fiscal Policy

https://www.flsenate.gov/Committees/Show/FP/

 

 

 Representatives on the Healthcare Regulation Subcommittee: 

https://www.flhouse.gov/Sections/Committees/committeesdetail.aspx?CommitteeId=3296

 

Representatives on the Human Services Subcommittee:

https://www.flhouse.gov/Sections/Committees/committeesdetail.aspx?TermId=91&CommitteeId=3297

 

 

 

The letters below are a template for SB 758/HB 883 and SB 250. One is more for NPs the other for community members. It is up to you to address or not address HB 250 – Prescriptive Authority for Psychologists. I do not have a letter for SB 172 but you can use these as a template. 

 

Please edit and make it YOURS! Explain who you are and why you think these bills should and should not be passed. 

 

Date:

Subject Line: Vote Yes on SB 758 

Vote No on HB 250

 

Dear Senator/Representative _______:(Please be sure to address with the appropriate title and remove highlighted area.)

 

SB 758 has been filed in the Senate to grant autonomous practice to Psychiatric Advance Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) Practitioners in the state of Florida in addition to those working autonomously in primary care, pediatrics and as certified nurse midwives since 2020. This bill allows Psychiatric APRNs to continue their current roles and responsibilities without the need to find, and at times, pay high fees to a psychiatrist to sign a protocol/collaborative agreement every 2 years and be available for consultation. 

 

Psychiatric APRNs are aware when they need to consult or refer their clients who need higher levels of care. Most Psychiatric APRNs have been practicing independently for a long time. The previous bill, passed in 2020, which allowed Primary Care Nurse Practitioners to practice autonomously, excluded any specialty providers including psychiatry. There is a great need to expand mental health services in Florida so please vote YES for SB 758.

SB 250 allows psychologists to prescribe medications in the state of Florida. It has been referred to Health Policy; Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services; and Fiscal Policy Committees. 

 

While psychologists have been prescribing in other states, they have not been doing so in Florida. Most Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners have been prescribing for years but are limited by the need to have a collaborating or protocol psychiatrist on board. If there continues to be a shortage of prescribers, after allowing Psychiatric APRNs to practice autonomously, that would be the time to talk about allowing psychologists to prescribe. At present it can take 3-6 months to find a psychologist who can do a neuropsychiatric evaluation which no one else can do. We desperately need them available to function in their current role. We need more psychologists who take insurance and for reiumbursement rates to increase. We need Psychiatric APRNs to be able to prescribe to the full extent of their ability.

 

I am a ….. Nurse Practitioner and have been practicing as an NP since …. I have had problems in the past finding a collaborating psychiatrist. I currently work for…. / have a private practice…

 

Thank you for your time and I hope you understand my points above and VOTE YES on SB 758 and No on SB 250. I would be more than happy to discuss or clarify any of my concerns. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me. 

 

Insert your name and credentials here

Example: Doctor of Nursing Practice

Example: Family Nurse Practitioner

Please add your email here so you can be contacted by your legislator

Please add your phone number so they can reach out to you.

 

 

 

Date:

Senator/Congressman/Congresswoman/State Representative (First name)(Last name) 

Address City, State (Zip Code)  

RE: SB 758

Dear Honorable Senator/ Representative …

My name is (Your first and last, credentials). I am a (family member/friend/patient/citizen and Florida resident in your district. _______ County.

 

I am writing to you to ask your support in passing this much needed legislation SB 758. 

Passage of this bill will allow dedicated Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners to practice to the full extent of the law. This will allow residents improved access and will decrease the cost of mental health care in Florida.

 

In 2019, President Trump signed an executive order to expand legislation passed in many states to allow Advanced Practice nurses to practice autonomously / independently to the full extent of their education and training. In Florida similar legislation was passed in 2020 but excluded Psychiatric Advanced Practice Nurses.

 

This bill will allow for strengthening of healthcare delivery in Florida and allow Board Certified Advanced Practice Nurses to provide the highest level of care in a changing and complex healthcare environment to improve patient outcomes. 

(Include a personal story if you can). Tell your representative why the issue is important to you and how it affects you, your family members and your community.) 

I appreciate your help and ask that you please send me a response letting me know if you are willing to support this important and much needed legislation. 

 

 Sincerely,

 

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