2018- Full Signature Authority: Montgomery, Alabama, May 21, 2018: Governor Kay Ivey officially signed House Bill 429 on March 28, 2018, and it immediately became law as Alabama Act #2018-474. A ceremonial signing of the bill took place on May 21. Several members of the Nurse Practitioner Alliance of Alabama (NPAA) and representatives from the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) state office attended the ceremony along with Representative April Weaver and Senator Jim McClendon. Representative Weaver and Senator McClendon sponsored the signature authority bill in the House and Senate, respectively, and provided strong leadership throughout the legislative session.

Alabama Act #2018-474 authorizes certified registered nurse practitioners (CRNPs) and certified nurse midwives (CNMs) to sign medical forms within their scope of practice and collaborative practice agreement. Such medical forms include those required for disabled parking tags or placards, death certificates, durable medical equipment, diabetic testing supplies, diabetic shoes, select employee and sport physicals, and several other forms. A full listing of the forms can be found on the Alabama Board of Nursing Frequently Asked Questions web page located at: https://www.abn.alabama.gov/advanced-practice-nursing/#faq/what-does-alabama-act-no-2018-474-allow-crnp-cnm-to-sign

Representative Weaver and Senator McClendon both commented on passage of the bill. Representative Weaver said, “Congratulations to the nurse practitioners for a job well done! Because the nurse practitioners worked together as a team and helped educate legislatures on their role within the healthcare system, Alabama is stronger. Because of their advocacy, the citizens of Alabama now have increased access to care.” Senator McClendon stated, “It was a pleasure working with the nurse practitioners. Without their hard work, the bill would never had happened.”

Dr. Eileen Meyer, NPAA Vice President of Policy, stated, “The NPAA would like to thank Senator McClendon and Representative Weaver for the time and effort they invested in seeing the passage of this bill. Without their guidance in this process, moving the bill forward would have been an arduous process. Both of them spent countless hours encouraging the nurse practitioners and mentoring them on how to navigate legislation. I would encourage nurse practitioners to become familiar with their legislators as their support has truly made a difference this year. Thanks to all the nurse practitioners, physicians, and administrators who called, emailed, or traveled to Montgomery in support of the bill.”