Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Autonomous Practice:
HB 883 would expand the scope of autonomous practice for certain advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) in Florida. Under current law, APRNs may practice autonomously in specified primary care settings; this bill would add an explicit authorization for psychiatric mental health advanced practice nurses to provide mental health services autonomously, as defined by board rule. The bill also preserves existing autonomous practice authority for certified nurse midwives and APRNs practicing in primary care.
The bill further clarifies that an autonomous APRN may admit, manage, and discharge patients in a health care facility when otherwise permitted, and may provide signatures, certifications, stamps, verifications, affidavits, or endorsements that are otherwise required by law to be provided by a physician. It includes one express limitation: autonomous APRNs could not issue a physician certification under the state’s medical marijuana law. The act would take effect July 1, 2025.
HB 883 would amend section 464.0123, Florida Statutes, by broadening the statutory authority of autonomous APRNs, especially psychiatric mental health APRNs, and by expanding the types of patient-care and administrative actions they may perform without physician supervision. The bill would affect nursing practice regulation, health care facilities, and patients receiving primary care or mental health services, while leaving in place the existing prohibition on APRNs issuing physician certifications under s. 381.986.
The available legislative record shows no committee transcript or recorded votes, so there is no detailed public debate captured in the provided materials. Based on the bill text, the measure appears to reflect a pro-expansion approach to nurse practitioner autonomy, particularly for mental health care, with the main policy balance being between increasing access to care and preserving certain physician-only functions.
The likely points of contention are the expansion of independent practice authority for APRNs and the inclusion of mental health services within autonomous practice, which may raise concerns among physician groups about scope of practice and patient oversight. Another possible issue is the bill’s authorization for APRNs to perform functions such as facility admission, care management, discharge, and physician-equivalent certifications, though the bill retains a specific carve-out for physician certifications under the medical marijuana statute.