Florida Medical Directors Association Becomes First Medical Society to Support ARNP/PA Prescribing Authority in State

Kudos to the Florida Medical Directors Association (FMDA) for their recognition of the impact on patient care through collaborative teamwork.  JoAnn Fisher, ARNP, President of the Florida-Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association (FL-GAPNA) and members of the FMDA to help craft the position statement on prescriptive authority for ARNPs-PA’s. 

The Florida Medical Directors Association (FMDA), in the interest of the highest quality of care for residents in the long-term care continuum (LTCC), presented a position statement regarding the prescription of controlled substances by advanced registered nurse practitioners (ARNPs) and physician assistants (PAs) in the state of Florida. FMDA recommends that, with the written permission of his or her collaborating/supervising physician(s) and successful completion of mandatory continuing education that ARNPs and PAs be granted the legal authority to prescribe controlled substances in long-term care settings, including skilled nursing facilities, home care, assisted living, residential care, and hospice programs. These settings are very well-regulated and controlled by current federal and state governance, as well as other credentialing organizations.