Senate Passes Bill Giving Nurse Practitioners Greater Say in Health Care Decisions

The State Senate this week gave unanimous approval to legislation (S.4525-C) that would allow nurse practitioners to admit a patient to an inpatient mental health unit.

Senator Montgomery, a sponsor of the bill, noted that while most inpatient admissions to mental health units occur through a psychiatrist, there is a shortage of these specialized physicians in certain parts of the State.  Allowing trained nurse practitioners in the specialty of psychiatry to admit patients on a voluntary or involuntary basis would ensure that the people of New York State are receiving the psychiatric care they need when they need it. 

In 2011, Senator Montgomery authored a bill signed into law by Governor Cuomo that authorizes nurse practitioners to sign death certificates in the same manner as physicians.