HB284 has held up for a month while the site issues were worked out in the APN bill (SB83). Once this was resolved, House Health Committee Chairman Wachtmann created a substitute HB284 that included the additional sites (where Schedule IIs can be prescribed) that were added to the APN bill. It also includes new language on pronouncing death (added 24 hour signature by the physician) and the disaster response language.
Unfortunately, it also includes language that will prohibit PAs from inserting or removing birth control devices (even in a health care facility). This language was not in the original HB284 and OAPA was not consulted.
At the February 8 Committee meeting, Chairman Wachtmann offered the substitute bill and it was accepted by the Committee but not without objections from the Democrats. They did not want the birth control language included in the bill.
At the February 15 meeting, Chairman Wachtmann introduced an amendment that contained language on "future forms of birth control." The Democrats again objected to the birth control language stating that they could not understand why there was a need for the prohibition when PAs have been doing the procedures for 20 years without any negative outcomes. Chairman Wachtmann’s amendment, though, was ultimately accepted on party lines.
SubHB284 was finally voted out of House Health Committee along party lines and will, hopefully, be on the full House agenda on March 13 (they will go into recess until after the primaries).