CA Assembly Bill 890 – What it Means to Nurses and Questions that Remain
Nursing is one of the most important occupations in our region. According to data from the California Board of Registered Nursing, there are nearly 500,000 actively registered nurses (RNs) in the state. In September of 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom signed a law—California Assembly Bill 890—which has important implications for Nurse Practitioners and their employers. Here, our Bay Area business attorney for nurses explains the key things that you need to know about AB 890.
An Overview of California Assembly Bill 890 (AB 890)
AB 890 is a California state law that is designed to grant Nurse Practitioners additional autonomy to provide services to patients. The law creates two new categories of nursing professionals:
- 103 NP (Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 2837.103): A Nurse Practitioner who can work in a group setting with at least one physician present.
- 104 NP (Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 2837.104): A Nurse Practitioner who can work independently in certain circumstances.
In other words, Bill AB 890 gives Nurse Practitioners in California who meet pre-established professional requirements more authority to practice independently.
Bill AB 890 Imposes Peer Review Reporting Requirements on Many Nurses
Beyond granting additional autonomy to qualified Nurse Practitioners, AB 890 includes a provision that requires these professionals to adhere to the peer review reporting requirements outlined in Section 805 of California law. The bill amends the definition of the statutory term “licentiate” to include nurses. In effect, this means that some mandatory reporting requirements are triggered when a nurse faces professional disciplinary action.
Many Nurses Have Questions About AB 890—Our Legal Team Can Help
If you are a nurse who has questions about the implications of CA Assembly Bill 890, you are certainly not alone. It is a complex piece of legislation. Despite being signed into law more than two years ago, many questions surrounding its interpretation remain, because AB 890 only took full effect on January 1st, 2023. Our law firm provides legal guidance to nurses. Some common questions that you may have include:
- What types of training are required for Nurse Practitioners to gain additional autonomy to practice independently under AB 890?
- What additional types of practice are available to Nurse Practitioners since AB 890 has taken effect?
- How can Nurse Practitioners who have opened their own practice take advantage of new opportunities to provide care while ensuring full AB 890 compliance?
- What are some business strategies that NP 104 entrepreneurs can implement to develop and grow their professional practice in the new regulatory environment?
- How can Nurse Practitioners in California effectively start the business?
Contact Our California Business Lawyer for Nurses Attorney Today
Lynnette Ariathurai is an experienced business law attorney for nurses, doctors, and other medical professionals. If you have any specific questions or concerns about CA Assembly Bill 890, please do not hesitate to contact us. We provide legal services throughout the Bay Area.