HB 1609-FN –AS INTRODUCED
2012 SESSION
10/01
HOUSE BILL 1609-FN
AN ACT relative to licensure of polysomnographers by the board of respiratory care practitioners.
SPONSORS: Rep. Devine, Rock 7; Rep. Hagan, Rock 7; Rep. Sedensky, Rock 8; Rep. Sanders, Rock 7
COMMITTEE: Executive Departments and Administration
This bill requires persons practicing polysomnography to be licensed by the board of respiratory care practitioners.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
12-2747
10/01
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twelve
AN ACT relative to licensure of polysomnographers by the board of respiratory care practitioners.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Respiratory Care Practice; Practice of Polysomnography. RSA 326-E:1, VIII is repealed and reenacted to read as follows:
VIII. “Practice of polysomnography” means monitoring and recording physiologic data during the evaluation of sleep-related disorders, including sleep-related respiratory disturbances by a polysomnographic technologist performing the following tasks under direct or indirect supervision of a licensed physician:
(a) Supplemental low flow oxygen therapy, less than 6 liters per minute utilizing nasal cannula or positive airway pressure (PAP) during a polysomnogram;
(b) Capnography during a polysomnogram;
(c) Cardiopulmonary resuscitation;
(d) Pulse oximetry;
(e) Gastroesophageal pH monitoring;
(f) Esophageal pressure monitoring;
(g) Sleep staging, including surface electroencephalography, surface electrooculography, and surface submental electromyography;
(h) Surface electromyography;
(i) Electrocardiography;
(j) Respiratory effort monitoring, including thoracic and abdominal movement;
(k) Plethysmography blood flow;
(l) Snore monitoring;
(m) Audio or video monitoring of movement and behavior during sleep;
(n) Nasal and oral airflow monitoring;
(o) Body temperature monitoring;
(p) Monitoring the effects that a mask or oral appliance used to treat sleep disorders has on sleep patterns; provided that the mask or oral appliance does not extend into the trachea or attach to an artificial airway;
(q) Observing and monitoring physical signs and symptoms, general behavior, and general physical response to polysomnographic evaluation and determining whether initiation, modification, or discontinuation of a treatment regimen is warranted;
(r) Analyzing and scoring data collected during the monitoring described in subparagraphs (p) and (q) for the purpose of assisting a licensed physician in the diagnosis and treatment of sleep and wake disorders which result from developmental defects, the aging process, physical injury, disease, or actual or anticipated somatic dysfunction;
(s) Implementation of a written or verbal order from a licensed physician in a sleep lab or sleep center which requires the practice of polysomnography; and
(t) Education of a patient regarding the treatment regimen which assists the patient in improving the patient’s sleep.
2 Rulemaking; Licensed Polysomnographers. Amend RSA 326-E:2, I to read as follows:
I. Specifying the limited scopes of practice permitted to certified pulmonary function technicians, registered pulmonary function technologists and [registered] licensed polysomnographic technologists.
3 New Paragraph; Requirements for Initial Licensure. Amend RSA 326-E:3 by inserting after paragraph IV the following new paragraph:
V. An applicant for an initial polysomnographic technologist license for a person engaged in the practice of polysomnography shall be of good professional character and shall have completed a polysomnographic technologist educational program approved by the board and shall have successfully completed and achieved a passing score on the comprehensive registry examination for polysomnographic technologists administered by the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists or its successor organization.
4 New Paragraph; Professional Identification. Amend RSA 326-E:4 by inserting after paragraph I the following new paragraph:
I-a. A person holding a license issued by the board to practice as a polysomnographic technologist in this state shall use the title “licensed polysomnographic technologist.”
5 Professional Identification; Reference Removed. Amend RSA 326-E:4, III to read as follows:
III. A person matriculated in an accredited respiratory care [or polysomnographic technology] education program shall display appropriate identification.
6 Powers of the Board. Amend RSA 326-E:5 to read as follows:
326-E:5 Duties and Powers of the Board.
I. The board shall have the authorities, powers and duties set forth in RSA 328-F.
II. In addition, the board shall:
(a) Elect officers from among its members for terms of one year.
(b) Provide information to the public and its licensees regarding the complaint process.
(c) Provide timely orientation of new professional and public appointees to the board regarding duties, powers and procedures of the board.
(d) Advise the board of directors of the office of licensed allied health professionals of matters regarding respiratory care and the practice of polysomnography.
(e) Keep information confidential in accordance with the confidentiality requirements of RSA 328-F.
(f) Keep confidential patient records, patient files, reports relating to patients, oral statements relating to diagnostic findings or treatment of patients, information from which a patient or his or her family may be identified and information received and records kept by the board as a result of an investigation, except when these become part of a disciplinary hearing or are required to be disclosed by the order of a court.
III. The board may refer the unlawful practice of respiratory care or the unlawful practice of polysomnography to the attorney general’s office for prosecution regardless of whether the person or entity ceases the unlawful practice.
7 Effective Date. This act shall take effect July 1, 2012.
LBAO
12-2747
12/15/11
HB 1609-FN - FISCAL NOTE
AN ACT relative to licensure of polysomnographers by the board of respiratory care practioners.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Legislative Budget Assistant has determined that this legislation has a total fiscal impact of less than $10,000 in each of the fiscal years 2012 through 2016.