SB 167-FN – AS INTRODUCED
2007 SESSION
10/04
SENATE BILL 167-FN
AN ACT relative to the licensure of medical assistants by the board of nursing.
SPONSORS: Sen. D’Allesandro, Dist 20; Sen. Janeway, Dist 7; Sen. Sgambati, Dist 4; Sen. Fuller Clark, Dist 24; Sen. Burling, Dist 5; Sen. Downing, Dist 22
COMMITTEE: Health and Human Services
This bill requires medical assistants to be licensed by the board of nursing.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
07-0097
10/04
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Seven
AN ACT relative to the licensure of medical assistants by the board of nursing.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Paragraph; Licensed Medial Assistant; Nurse Practice Act. Amend RSA 326-B:2 by inserting after paragraph III the following new paragraph:
III-a. “Licensed medical assistant” or LMA means an individual who holds a current license to practice medical assisting.
2 New Section; Licensed Medical Assistant; Licensure; Practice. Amend RSA 326-B by inserting after section 19 the following new section:
326-B:19-a Licensed Medical Assistant; Licensure by Examination; Scope of Practice.
I. Applicants for an initial LMA license shall:
(a) Submit documentation of successful completion and certification from a board approved medical assistant education program.
(b) Pass an examination approved by the board.
(c) Meet other criteria as established by the board.
II. The practice of medical assisting means doing clinical and administrative duties in an ambulatory health care setting under the direct supervision of a physician, doctor of osteopathy, physician assistant, or advanced registered nurse practitioner, and as permitted in rules adopted by the board.
3 License Renewals. Amend the introductory paragraph of RSA 326-B:22, II to read as follows:
II. Any person licensed who intends to continue practicing as a nurse [or], nursing assistant, or medical assistant shall:
4 Reinstatements. Amend RSA 326-B:23, I to read as follows:
I. An individual who applies for license reinstatement who does not meet the continuing competence requirements shall demonstrate current nursing [or], nursing assistant, or medical assistant knowledge and skill, as defined in rules adopted by the board under RSA 541-A.
5 Penalties. Amend RSA 326-B:41-a, I to read as follows:
I. Any person who shall practice or attempt to practice as a registered nurse, advanced registered nurse practitioner, licensed practical nurse, [or] licensed nursing assistant, or licensed medical assistant in this state without a license shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor if a natural person or guilty of a felony if any other person.
6 Effective Date. This act shall take effect July 1, 2007.
LBAO
07-0097
1/5/07
SB 167-FN - FISCAL NOTE
AN ACT relative to the licensure of medical assistants by the board of nursing.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Board of Nursing states this bill may increase state revenue and expenditures by $46,114 in FY 2008, $47,524 in FY 2009, $49,635 in FY 2010, and $51,713 in FY 2011. This bill will have no fiscal impact on county and local revenue or expenditures.
METHODOLOGY:
The Board of Nursing states this bill would require medical assistants to be licensed by the Board. Although this bill does not establish any new positions, appropriate funds, or establish license fees, the Board states this bill may have a fiscal impact on their agency. The Board assumes there are 900 potential licensees, and as a result they would require a full-time Secretary II position at Labor Grade 9. In addition, there would be costs for supplies, paper, postage, newsletters, telephone, and information technology related expenses. The Board assumes that the its Executive Director and another current staff member would need to dedicate some of their time to supervise the work of the new employee, and that their related salary costs would be a charge against medical assistant licensure fees which would be established by the Board. Assuming a starting salary at minimum, annual steps, and benefits at 48.3% of salary, the estimated fiscal impact is as follows:
FY08 FY09 FY10 FY11
Salary and Benefits $30,741 $31,984 $33,285 $34,558
Administrative Charges 7,675 7,700 7,900 8,100
IT expenses 2,500 2,000 2,000 2,000
Supplies, Postage, & Newsletter 4,135 4,640 5,150 5,655
Telephone Expenses 1,063 1,200 1,300 1,400
Total Costs $46,114 $47,524 $49,635 $51,713
The Board assumes that licensure fees would be established by the Board to cover all estimated expenses to operate the medical assistant license process.