REQUIRES TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY VOTE (§§ 9, 21, 26 & NRS 453.221, 453.226, 639.170) A.B. 170 - *AB170* ASSEMBLY BILL NO. 170–ASSEMBLYMEMBER NADEEM PREFILED JANUARY 31, 2025 ____________ Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor SUMMARY—Providing for the licensure of associate physicians and associate osteopathic physicians. (BDR 54-840) FISCAL NOTE: Effect on Local Government: No. Effect on the State: Yes. ~ EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted. AN ACT relating to health care; providing for the licensure of associate physicians and associate osteopathic physicians; prescribing the conditions under which an associate physician or associate osteopathic physician is authorized to practice medicine or osteopathic medicine; authorizing an associate physician or associate osteopathic physician to register to possess, administer, prescribe or dispense controlled substances; and providing other matters properly relating thereto. Legislative Counsel’s Digest: Existing law provides for the licensing of physicians and physician assistants 1 by the Board of Medical Examiners and for the licensing of osteopathic physicians 2 and physician assistants by the State Board of Osteopathic Medicine. (NRS 3 630.160-630.1607, 630.258-630.2665, 630.271-630.2755, 633.305-633.420, 4 633.432-633.4336) Sections 2-9 and 14-21 of this bill create limited licenses that 5 authorize certain medical school graduates to engage in the supervised practice of 6 medicine as an associate physician or associate osteopathic physician. Sections 2 7 and 14 authorize the Board of Medical Examiners and State Board of Osteopathic 8 Medicine, respectively, to issue a limited license as an associate physician or 9 associate osteopathic physician to an applicant who: (1) has graduated from certain 10 medical schools; (2) has completed at least 1 year of postgraduate medical 11 education as a resident or intern as a part of certain programs; and (3) possesses 12 certain other qualifications. Sections 3 and 15 limit an associate physician or 13 associate osteopathic physician to practicing medicine under the supervision and 14 control of a supervising physician or supervising osteopathic physician. Sections 5 15 and 17 prescribe the required qualifications of a supervising physician or 16 supervising osteopathic physician. Sections 3 and 15 require an associate physician 17 or associate osteopathic physician to enter into a collaborative practice agreement 18 with his or her supervising physician or supervising osteopathic physician. 19 – 2 – - *AB170* Sections 6 and 18 prescribe the provisions that are required to be included in the 20 collaborative practice agreement. 21 Sections 3 and 15 require a supervising physician or supervising osteopathic 22 physician to be on the same premises and available to assist an associate physician 23 or associate osteopathic physician for the first 30 days of supervision. Sections 3 24 and 15 require a supervising physician or supervising osteopathic physician, or 25 designee thereof, to be on the same premises and available to assist at all times an 26 associate physician or associate osteopathic physician, as applicable, who is 27 practicing in a county whose population is less than 100,000 (currently all counties 28 other than Clark and Washoe Counties). Sections 3 and 15 also require the 29 employer of an associate physician or associate osteopathic physician to credential 30 and bill for services rendered by an associate physician or associate osteopathic 31 physician in the same manner as a physician assistant. Sections 4 and 16 require a 32 supervising physician and associate physician or supervising osteopathic physician 33 and associate osteopathic physician to take certain measures to notify the public of 34 their respective statuses and their relationship. Sections 5 and 17: (1) provide that a 35 supervising physician or supervising osteopathic physician is responsible for the 36 practice of medicine or osteopathic medicine by the associate physician or associate 37 osteopathic physician, as applicable, that he or she is supervising; and (2) require a 38 supervising physician or supervising osteopathic physician to maintain insurance 39 that covers malpractice by an associate physician or associate osteopathic 40 physician, as applicable. Sections 5 and 17 prohibit a supervising physician or 41 supervising osteopathic physician from entering into a collaborative practice 42 agreement with more than three associate physicians or associate osteopathic 43 physicians, as applicable. Sections 5 and 17 additionally prohibit the Board of 44 Medical Examiners and the State Board of Osteopathic Medicine, respectively, 45 from disciplining a supervising physician or supervising osteopathic physician for 46 legal activity of an associate physician or associate osteopathic physician that is 47 within the scope of the relevant collaborative practice agreement. 48 Sections 7 and 19 authorize an associate physician or associate osteopathic 49 physician, respectively, to prescribe or dispense certain controlled substances and 50 establish the conditions under which an associate physician or associate osteopathic 51 physician may prescribe or dispense such controlled substances. Existing law: (1) 52 authorizes the State Board of Pharmacy to issue a registration certificate to 53 authorize a physician assistant to possess, administer, prescribe or dispense 54 controlled substances, poisons, dangerous drugs or devices in or out of the presence 55 of his or her supervising physician; and (2) requires the Board to adopt regulations 56 governing the storage, security, recordkeeping and transportation of controlled 57 substances, poisons, dangerous drugs or devices by a physician assistant. (NRS 58 639.1373) Section 26 of this bill authorizes the State Board of Pharmacy to 59 additionally issue such a registration certificate to associate physicians and 60 associate osteopathic physicians and to regulate associate physicians and associate 61 osteopathic physicians who hold such a certificate in the same manner as physician 62 assistants. 63 Sections 8 and 20 provide for the expiration and renewal of the limited licenses 64 issued to associate physicians and associate osteopathic physicians, respectively. 65 Sections 11 and 25 of this bill require a physician or osteopathic physician to 66 biennially submit to the Board of Medical Examiners or the State Board of 67 Osteopathic Medicine, as applicable, a list of the names of each associate physician 68 or associate osteopathic physician who is supervised by the physician or 69 osteopathic physician. Sections 9 and 21 of this bill require those Boards to adopt 70 regulations to implement sections 2-9 and 19-21. 71 Sections 10, 22 and 27 of this bill make conforming changes to clarify the 72 meaning of the terms “supervising physician,” “associate physician,” “supervising 73 osteopathic physician” and “associate osteopathic physician.” Sections 11 and 23 74 – 3 – - *AB170* of this bill make conforming changes to clarify that an applicant for a license as an 75 associate physician or an associate osteopathic physician does not hold the same 76 qualifications for licensure as an applicant for a standard license as a physician or 77 an osteopathic physician. Section 24 of this bill makes a conforming change to 78 clarify the applicability of a provision relating to the supervising osteopathic 79 physician of a physician assistant. 80 THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. Chapter 630 of NRS is hereby amended by adding 1 thereto the provisions set forth as sections 2 to 9, inclusive, of this 2 act. 3 Sec. 2. Except as otherwise provided in NRS 630.161, the 4 Board may issue a limited license for a person to practice 5 medicine as an associate physician if the applicant: 6 1. Has received the degree of doctor of medicine from a 7 medical school in the United States or Canada: 8 (a) Approved by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education 9 of the American Medical Association and Association of American 10 Medical Colleges; or 11 (b) Which provides a course of professional instruction 12 equivalent to that provided in medical schools in the United States 13 approved by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education; 14 2. Has passed the Step 1 Exam and Step 2 CK Exam of the 15 United States Medical Licensing Examination or an examination 16 deemed equivalent by the Board; 17 3. Has not completed a residency in a program described in 18 sub-subparagraph (I) of subparagraph (1) of paragraph (c) of 19 subsection 2 of NRS 630.160; 20 4. Has completed at least his or her first year of postgraduate 21 medical education as a resident or intern as part of a program 22 that: 23 (a) Has been approved by the Accreditation Council for 24 Graduate Medical Education; 25 (b) Conforms to the minimum standards for intern training 26 established by the American Osteopathic Association; or 27 (c) Is approved by the Board in accordance with the 28 regulations adopted pursuant to section 9 of this act; and 29 5. Has basic fluency in the English language. 30 Sec. 3. 1. An associate physician shall only practice 31 medicine under the supervision and control of a physician: 32 (a) Who meets the requirements of section 5 of this act; and 33 – 4 – - *AB170* (b) With whom the associate physician has entered into a 1 collaborative practice agreement that meets the requirements of 2 section 6 of this act. 3 2. An associate physician shall not practice medicine in a 4 manner that exceeds the skill, training and competence of the 5 associate physician or his or her supervising physician. 6 3. For the first 30 days during which an associate physician 7 practices medicine under the supervision of a new supervising 8 physician, the supervising physician must be physically present on 9 the same premises and available to assist the associate physician. 10 4. An associate physician shall not practice medicine in a 11 county whose population is less than 100,000 unless the 12 supervising physician or another physician designated by the 13 supervising physician is physically present on the same premises 14 and is available to assist the associate physician. 15 5. An associate physician working in a rural health clinic, as 16 defined in 42 U.S.C. § 1395x(aa)(2), shall be considered to be a 17 physician assistant for the purposes of the regulations of the 18 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services of the United States 19 Department of Health and Human Services. Such an associate 20 physician and his or her supervising physician are not required to 21 comply with the requirements of any regulations adopted pursuant 22 to section 9 of this act governing the supervision of an associate 23 physician that are more stringent than the requirements of federal 24 law and regulations. 25 6. A person or entity that employs an associate physician 26 shall credential the associate physician and bill for services 27 rendered by the associate physician in the same manner as the 28 person or entity credentials and bills for the services of a physician 29 assistant. 30 Sec. 4. 1. The supervising physician of an associate 31 physician shall prominently display a disclosure at every office 32 where the associate physician practices medicine explaining to 33 patients that the patient may be seen by an associate physician and 34 the patient may instead request to be seen by the supervising 35 physician. 36 2. An associate physician shall clearly identify himself or 37 herself as an associate physician, including, without limitation, by 38 wearing an identification badge that clearly identifies the person 39 as an associate physician. An associate physician may identify 40 himself or herself as a doctor. 41 3. While acting as the supervising physician of an associate 42 physician, a physician shall wear an identification badge that 43 clearly identifies the person as a supervising physician of an 44 associate physician. 45 – 5 – - *AB170* Sec. 5. 1. A physician shall not serve as the supervising 1 physician of an associate physician pursuant to subsection 1 of 2 section 3 of this act or the designee of a supervising physician 3 pursuant to subsection 4 of section 3 of this act unless the 4 physician: 5 (a) Holds an active unrestricted license to practice medicine in 6 this State; and 7 (b) Practices in the same specialty area as the associate 8 physician or a substantially similar specialty area as the associate 9 physician. 10 2. The supervising physician of an associate physician: 11 (a) Is responsible for any act that constitutes the practice of 12 medicine by the associate physician; 13 (b) Must have insurance that includes coverage for any claim 14 of malpractice against the associate physician; and 15 (c) May not enter into a collaborative practice agreement with 16 more than three associate physicians. 17 3. The Board may not deny, revoke or suspend the license of 18 or take any other disciplinary action against the supervising 19 physician of an associate physician for any act performed by the 20 associate physician that: 21 (a) Is performed in accordance with the collaborative practice 22 agreement entered into pursuant to section 3 of this act; and 23 (b) Does not violate applicable federal, state or local laws or 24 the regulations of the Board. 25 Sec. 6. 1. A collaborative practice agreement entered into 26 pursuant to section 3 of this act must be in writing and must 27 include, without limitation: 28 (a) The names, home and business addresses and telephone 29 numbers of the supervising physician and associate physician; 30 (b) A list of each location where the associate physician may 31 practice medicine, including, without limitation, the prescribing 32 and dispensing of controlled substances; 33 (c) Any specialty or board certification held by the supervising 34 physician; 35 (d) Any certification held by the associate physician; 36 (e) Requirements governing collaboration between the 37 supervising physician and the associate physician, including, 38 without limitation: 39 (1) The geographic proximity which must exist between the 40 supervising physician and the associate physician while the 41 associate physician is practicing medicine; and 42 (2) A plan for alternative supervision if the supervising 43 physician is absent, incapacitated or otherwise unavailable; 44 – 6 – - *AB170* (f) Any controlled substance the supervising physician 1 authorizes the associate physician to prescribe or dispense in 2 accordance with section 7 of this act; 3 (g) The procedure by which the supervising physician will 4 review the standard of care the associate physician is providing to 5 patients, which must comply with the regulations adopted 6 pursuant to section 9 of this act; 7 (h) The duration of the collaborative practice agreement; and 8 (i) A statement of any other collaborative practice agreements 9 into which: 10 (1) The supervising physician has entered with another 11 associate physician; and 12 (2) The associate physician has entered with another 13 supervising physician. 14 2. Upon entering into a new collaborative practice agreement 15 with an associate physician, a supervising physician shall file with 16 the Board: 17 (a) A copy of the agreement; and 18 (b) Proof that any controlled substance included in the 19 agreement pursuant to paragraph (f) of subsection 1 is within the 20 skill, training and competence of the associate physician and his 21 or her supervising physician to prescribe and dispense. 22 3. A supervising physician or associate physician may 23 terminate a collaborative practice agreement or a relationship with 24 a supervising physician or an associate physician, as applicable, at 25 any time. Any provision of a collaborative practice agreement or 26 any other agreement that limits the authority of a supervising 27 physician or an associate physician to terminate a collaborative 28 practice agreement or such a relationship is void. 29 Sec. 7. 1. An associate physician may prescribe or dispense 30 the controlled substances listed in subsection 2 under the 31 conditions prescribed by this section if the associate physician: 32 (a) Is registered with the State Board of Pharmacy pursuant to 33 NRS 639.1373; 34 (b) Has entered into a collaborative practice agreement 35 pursuant to section 3 of this act authorizing the associate 36 physician to prescribe the controlled substance; and 37 (c) Meets all other requirements prescribed by federal and 38 state law to prescribe controlled substances. 39 2. Subject to the limitations prescribed in NRS 639.1373, an 40 associate physician who meets the requirements of subsection 1 41 may prescribe or dispense: 42 (a) Any controlled substance listed in schedule III, IV or V; 43 and 44 – 7 – - *AB170* (b) Any controlled substance listed in schedule II that contains 1 hydrocodone. 2 3. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, an 3 associate physician shall not prescribe or dispense more than a 5-4 day supply of a controlled substance listed in schedule II or III. 5 An associate physician may prescribe or dispense a 30-day supply 6 of buprenorphine for the treatment of a substance use disorder 7 under the direction of his or her supervising physician. 8 4. An associate physician shall not prescribe or dispense 9 controlled substances unless: 10 (a) The supervising physician of the associate physician is 11 physically present on the same premises; or 12 (b) The associate physician has, at any time, completed 120 13 hours practicing medicine over a period of not more than 4 14 months with his or her supervising physician physically present on 15 the same premises. 16 Sec. 8. 1. A limited license to practice medicine as an 17 associate physician issued pursuant to section 2 of this act expires 18 2 years after it is issued. 19 2. The Board may renew a limited license to practice 20 medicine as an associate physician upon application by the 21 associate physician. An application for renewal must include, 22 without limitation, proof that the associate physician has actually 23 engaged in the practice of medicine under a collaborative practice 24 agreement entered into pursuant to section 3 of this act during the 25 immediately preceding 2 years. 26 Sec. 9. 1. The Board shall adopt regulations necessary: 27 (a) To carry out the provisions of sections 2 to 9, inclusive, of 28 this act, including, without limitation: 29 (1) Any additional requirements for the issuance or 30 renewal of a limited license to practice medicine as an associate 31 physician. 32 (2) The standards for the approval of programs of 33 postgraduate medical education pursuant to paragraph (c) of 34 subsection 4 of section 2 of this act. 35 (3) The required fees for the issuance and renewal of such 36 a license. 37 (4) Standards of practice for associate physicians, 38 including, without limitation, limitations on the practice of 39 medicine by an associate physician in addition to those prescribed 40 by sections 2 to 9, inclusive, of this act. 41 (5) Any additional requirements governing collaborative 42 practice agreements entered into pursuant to section 3 of this act. 43 (6) Requirements concerning the supervision of an 44 associate physician by a supervising physician, including, without 45 – 8 – - *AB170* limitation, requirements governing the review by the supervising 1 physician of the standard of care the associate physician is 2 providing to patients. Such regulations must not be more stringent 3 than any similar requirements that apply to physician assistants. 4 (b) For an associate physician to be eligible to work in a clinic 5 that receives federal funding. 6 2. The regulations adopted pursuant to this section and NRS 7 630.253 must not require an associate physician to complete a 8 greater amount of continuing education than a physician licensed 9 pursuant to NRS 630.160. 10 3. The Board shall publish on the Internet website 11 maintained pursuant to NRS 630.144 the name of each associate 12 physician and the physician or physicians supervising the 13 associate physician. 14 Sec. 10. NRS 630.025 is hereby amended to read as follows: 15 630.025 “Supervising physician” means an active physician 16 licensed and in good standing in the State of Nevada who supervises 17 a physician assistant [.] or an associate physician. 18 Sec. 11. NRS 630.160 is hereby amended to read as follows: 19 630.160 1. Every person desiring to practice medicine must, 20 before beginning to practice, procure from the Board a license 21 authorizing the person to practice. 22 2. Except as otherwise provided in NRS 630.1605 to 630.161, 23 inclusive, and 630.258 to 630.2665, inclusive, and sections 2 to 9, 24 inclusive, of this act, a license may be issued to any person who: 25 (a) Has received the degree of doctor of medicine from a 26 medical school: 27 (1) Approved by the Liaison Committee on Medical 28 Education of the American Medical Association and Association of 29 American Medical Colleges; or 30 (2) Which provides a course of professional instruction 31 equivalent to that provided in medical schools in the United States 32 approved by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education; 33 (b) Is currently certified by a specialty board of the American 34 Board of Medical Specialties and who agrees to maintain the 35 certification for the duration of the licensure, or has passed: 36 (1) All parts of the examination given by the National Board 37 of Medical Examiners; 38 (2) All parts of the Federation Licensing Examination; 39 (3) All parts of the United States Medical Licensing 40 Examination; 41 (4) All parts of a licensing examination given by any state or 42 territory of the United States, if the applicant is certified by a 43 specialty board of the American Board of Medical Specialties; 44 – 9 – - *AB170* (5) All parts of the examination to become a licentiate of the 1 Medical Council of Canada; or 2 (6) Any combination of the examinations specified in 3 subparagraphs (1), (2) and (3) that the Board determines to be 4 sufficient; 5 (c) Is currently certified by a specialty board of the American 6 Board of Medical Specialties in the specialty of emergency 7 medicine, preventive medicine or family medicine and who agrees 8 to maintain certification in at least one of these specialties for the 9 duration of the licensure, or: 10 (1) Has completed 36 months of progressive postgraduate: 11 (I) Education as a resident in the United States or Canada 12 in a program approved by the Board, the Accreditation Council for 13 Graduate Medical Education, the Royal College of Physicians and 14 Surgeons of Canada, the Collège des médecins du Québec or the 15 College of Family Physicians of Canada, or, as applicable, their 16 successor organizations; or 17 (II) Fellowship training in the United States or Canada 18 approved by the Board or the Accreditation Council for Graduate 19 Medical Education; 20 (2) Has completed at least 36 months of postgraduate 21 education, not less than 24 months of which must have been 22 completed as a resident after receiving a medical degree from a 23 combined dental and medical degree program approved by the 24 Board; or 25 (3) Is a resident who is enrolled in a progressive postgraduate 26 training program in the United States or Canada approved by the 27 Board, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, 28 the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, the 29 Collège des médecins du Québec or the College of Family 30 Physicians of Canada, or, as applicable, their successor 31 organizations, has completed at least 24 months of the program and 32 has committed, in writing, to the Board that he or she will complete 33 the program; and 34 (d) Passes a written or oral examination, or both, as to his or her 35 qualifications to practice medicine and provides the Board with a 36 description of the clinical program completed demonstrating that the 37 applicant’s clinical training met the requirements of paragraph (a). 38 3. The Board may issue a license to practice medicine after the 39 Board verifies, through any readily available source, that the 40 applicant has complied with the provisions of subsection 2. The 41 verification may include, but is not limited to, using the Federation 42 Credentials Verification Service. If any information is verified by a 43 source other than the primary source of the information, the Board 44 – 10 – - *AB170* may require subsequent verification of the information by the 1 primary source of the information. 2 4. Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the 3 contrary, if, after issuing a license to practice medicine, the Board 4 obtains information from a primary or other source of information 5 and that information differs from the information provided by the 6 applicant or otherwise received by the Board, the Board may: 7 (a) Temporarily suspend the license; 8 (b) Promptly review the differing information with the Board as 9 a whole or in a committee appointed by the Board; 10 (c) Declare the license void if the Board or a committee 11 appointed by the Board determines that the information submitted 12 by the applicant was false, fraudulent or intended to deceive the 13 Board; 14 (d) Refer the applicant to the Attorney General for possible 15 criminal prosecution pursuant to NRS 630.400; or 16 (e) If the Board temporarily suspends the license, allow the 17 license to return to active status subject to any terms and conditions 18 specified by the Board, including: 19 (1) Placing the licensee on probation for a specified period 20 with specified conditions; 21 (2) Administering a public reprimand; 22 (3) Limiting the practice of the licensee; 23 (4) Suspending the license for a specified period or until 24 further order of the Board; 25 (5) Requiring the licensee to participate in a program to 26 correct an alcohol or other substance use disorder; 27 (6) Requiring supervision of the practice of the licensee; 28 (7) Imposing an administrative fine not to exceed $5,000; 29 (8) Requiring the licensee to perform community service 30 without compensation; 31 (9) Requiring the licensee to take a physical or mental 32 examination or an examination testing his or her competence to 33 practice medicine; 34 (10) Requiring the licensee to complete any training or 35 educational requirements specified by the Board; and 36 (11) Requiring the licensee to submit a corrected application, 37 including the payment of all appropriate fees and costs incident to 38 submitting an application. 39 5. If the Board determines after reviewing the differing 40 information to allow the license to remain in active status, the action 41 of the Board is not a disciplinary action and must not be reported to 42 any national database. If the Board determines after reviewing the 43 differing information to declare the license void, its action shall be 44 – 11 – - *AB170* deemed a disciplinary action and shall be reportable to national 1 databases. 2 Sec. 12. NRS 630.267 is hereby amended to read as follows: 3 630.267 1. Each holder of a license to practice medicine for 4 which the procedure for renewal is not otherwise prescribed by 5 specific statute must, on or before June 30, or if June 30 is a 6 Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, on the next business day after 7 June 30, of each odd-numbered year: 8 (a) Submit a list of all actions filed or claims submitted to 9 arbitration or mediation for malpractice or negligence against him or 10 her during the previous 2 years. 11 (b) Pay to the Secretary-Treasurer of the Board the applicable 12 fee for biennial registration. This fee must be collected for the 13 period for which a physician is licensed. 14 (c) Submit a list of the names of each associate physician 15 supervised by the holder of the license, if applicable. 16 (d) Submit all information required to complete the biennial 17 registration. 18 2. When a holder of a license fails to pay the fee for biennial 19 registration and submit all information required to complete the 20 biennial registration after they become due, his or her license to 21 practice medicine in this State expires. The holder may, within 2 22 years after the date the license expires, upon payment of twice the 23 amount of the current fee for biennial registration to the Secretary-24 Treasurer and submission of all information required to complete 25 the biennial registration and after he or she is found to be in good 26 standing and qualified under the provisions of this chapter, be 27 reinstated to practice. 28 3. Not later than 60 days before a license is scheduled to 29 expire, the Board shall make such reasonable attempts as are 30 practicable to notify the licensee: 31 (a) At least once that the fee for biennial registration and all 32 information required to complete the biennial registration are due; 33 and 34 (b) The date on which his or her license is scheduled to expire. 35 4. After a license expires, the Board shall make such 36 reasonable attempts as are practicable to notify the holder of the 37 license that his or her license has expired. 38 5. Not later than September 30 of each odd-numbered year, the 39 Board shall provide a list of licenses to practice medicine that have 40 expired during that year to the Drug Enforcement Administration of 41 the United States Department of Justice or its successor agency and 42 the State Board of Pharmacy. 43 – 12 – - *AB170* Sec. 13. Chapter 633 of NRS is hereby amended by adding 1 thereto the provisions set forth as sections 14 to 21, inclusive, of this 2 act. 3 Sec. 14. Except as otherwise provided in NRS 633.315, the 4 Board may issue a limited license for a person to practice 5 osteopathic medicine as an associate osteopathic physician if the 6 applicant: 7 1. Has received the degree of doctor of osteopathic medicine 8 from a medical school in the United States approved by the 9 Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation of the 10 American Osteopathic Association; 11 2. Has passed the Level 1 Exam and Level 2 CE Exam of the 12 Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination of 13 the United States of the National Board of Osteopathic Medical 14 Examiners, the Step 1 Exam and Step 2 CK Exam of the United 15 States Medical Licensing Examination or an examination deemed 16 equivalent by the Board; 17 3. Has not completed a residency in a program described in 18 subparagraph (2) of paragraph (c) of subsection 1 of 19 NRS 633.311; 20 4. Has completed at least his or her first year of postgraduate 21 medical education as a resident or intern as part of a program 22 that: 23 (a) Conforms to the minimum standards for intern training 24 established by the American Osteopathic Association; 25 (b) Has been approved by the Accreditation Council for 26 Graduate Medical Education; or 27 (c) Is approved by the Board in accordance with the 28 regulations adopted pursuant to section 21 of this act; and 29 5. Has basic fluency in the English language. 30 Sec. 15. 1. An associate osteopathic physician shall only 31 practice osteopathic medicine under the supervision and control of 32 an osteopathic physician: 33 (a) Who meets the requirements of section 17 of this act; and 34 (b) With whom the associate osteopathic physician has entered 35 into a collaborative practice agreement that meets the 36 requirements of section 18 of this act. 37 2. An associate osteopathic physician shall not practice 38 osteopathic medicine in a manner that exceeds the skill, training 39 and competence of the associate osteopathic physician or his or 40 her supervising osteopathic physician. 41 3. For the first 30 days during which an associate osteopathic 42 physician practices osteopathic medicine under the supervision of 43 a new supervising osteopathic physician, the supervising 44 osteopathic physician must be physically present on the same 45 – 13 – - *AB170* premises and available to assist the associate osteopathic 1 physician. 2 4. An associate osteopathic physician shall not practice 3 osteopathic medicine in a county whose population is less than 4 100,000 unless the supervising osteopathic physician or another 5 osteopathic physician designated by the supervising osteopathic 6 physician is physically present on the same premises and available 7 to assist the associate osteopathic physician. 8 5. An associate osteopathic physician working in a rural 9 health clinic, as defined in 42 U.S.C. § 1395x(aa)(2), shall be 10 considered to be a physician assistant for the purposes of the 11 regulations of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services of 12 the United States Department of Health and Human Services. 13 Such an associate osteopathic physician and his or her 14 supervising osteopathic physician are not required to comply with 15 the requirements of any regulations adopted pursuant to section 16 21 of this act governing the supervision of an associate osteopathic 17 physician that are more stringent than the requirements of federal 18 law and regulations. 19 6. A person or entity that employs an associate osteopathic 20 physician shall credential the associate osteopathic physician and 21 bill for services rendered by the associate osteopathic physician in 22 the same manner as the person or entity credentials and bills for 23 the services of a physician assistant. 24 Sec. 16. 1. The supervising osteopathic physician of an 25 associate osteopathic physician shall prominently display a 26 disclosure at every office where the associate osteopathic 27 physician practices osteopathic medicine explaining to patients 28 that the patient may be seen by an associate osteopathic physician 29 and the patient may instead request to be seen by the supervising 30 osteopathic physician. 31 2. An associate osteopathic physician shall clearly identify 32 himself or herself as an associate osteopathic physician, including, 33 without limitation, by wearing an identification badge that clearly 34 identifies the person as an associate osteopathic physician. An 35 associate osteopathic physician may identify himself or herself as 36 a doctor. 37 3. While acting as the supervising osteopathic physician of an 38 associate osteopathic physician, an osteopathic physician shall 39 wear an identification badge that clearly identifies the person as a 40 supervising osteopathic physician of an associate osteopathic 41 physician. 42 Sec. 17. 1. An osteopathic physician shall not serve as the 43 supervising osteopathic physician of an associate osteopathic 44 physician pursuant to subsection 1 of section 15 of this act or the 45 – 14 – - *AB170* designee of a supervising osteopathic physician pursuant to 1 subsection 4 of section 15 of this act unless the osteopathic 2 physician: 3 (a) Holds an active unrestricted license to practice osteopathic 4 medicine in this State; 5 (b) Practices in the same specialty area as the associate 6 osteopathic physician or a substantially similar specialty area as 7 the associate osteopathic physician; and 8 (c) Normally provides care to patients. 9 2. The supervising osteopathic physician of an associate 10 osteopathic physician: 11 (a) Is responsible for any act that constitutes the practice of 12 osteopathic medicine by the associate osteopathic physician; 13 (b) Must have insurance that includes coverage for any claim 14 of malpractice against the associate osteopathic physician; and 15 (c) May not enter into a collaborative practice agreement with 16 more than three associate osteopathic physicians. 17 3. The Board may not deny, revoke or suspend the license of 18 or take any other disciplinary action against the supervising 19 osteopathic physician of an associate osteopathic physician for 20 any act performed by the associate osteopathic physician that: 21 (a) Is performed in accordance with the collaborative practice 22 agreement entered into pursuant to section 15 of this act; and 23 (b) Does not violate applicable federal, state or local laws or 24 the regulations of the Board. 25 Sec. 18. 1. A collaborative practice agreement entered into 26 pursuant to section 15 of this act must be in writing and must 27 include, without limitation: 28 (a) The names, home and business addresses and telephone 29 numbers of the supervising osteopathic physician and associate 30 osteopathic physician; 31 (b) A list of each location where the associate osteopathic 32 physician may practice osteopathic medicine, including, without 33 limitation, the prescribing and dispensing of controlled 34 substances; 35 (c) Any specialty or board certification held by the supervising 36 osteopathic physician; 37 (d) Any certification held by the associate osteopathic 38 physician; 39 (e) Requirements governing collaboration between the 40 supervising osteopathic physician and the associate osteopathic 41 physician, including, without limitation: 42 (1) The geographic proximity which must exist between the 43 supervising osteopathic physician and the associate osteopathic 44 – 15 – - *AB170* physician while the associate osteopathic physician is practicing 1 osteopathic medicine; and 2 (2) A plan for alternative supervision if the supervising 3 osteopathic physician is absent, incapacitated or otherwise 4 unavailable; 5 (f) Any controlled substance the supervising osteopathic 6 physician authorizes the associate osteopathic physician to 7 prescribe or dispense in accordance with section 19 of this act; 8 (g) The procedure by which the supervising osteopathic 9 physician will review the standard of care the associate 10 osteopathic physician is providing to patients, which must comply 11 with the regulations adopted pursuant to section 21 of this act; 12 (h) The duration of the collaborative practice agreement; and 13 (i) A statement of any other collaborative practice agreements 14 into which: 15 (1) The supervising osteopathic physician has entered with 16 another associate osteopathic physician; and 17 (2) The associate osteopathic physician has entered with 18 another supervising osteopathic physician. 19 2. Upon entering into a new collaborative practice agreement 20 with an associate osteopathic physician, a supervising osteopathic 21 physician shall file with the Board: 22 (a) A copy of the agreement; and 23 (b) Proof that any controlled substance included in the 24 agreement pursuant to paragraph (f) of subsection 1 is within the 25 skill, training and competence of the associate osteopathic 26 physician and his or her supervising osteopathic physician to 27 prescribe and dispense. 28 3. A supervising osteopathic physician or associate 29 osteopathic physician may terminate a collaborative practice 30 agreement or a relationship with a supervising osteopathic 31 physician or an associate osteopathic physician, as applicable, at 32 any time. Any provision of a collaborative practice agreement or 33 any other agreement that limits the authority of a supervising 34 osteopathic physician or an associate osteopathic physician to 35 terminate a collaborative practice agreement or such a 36 relationship is void. 37 Sec. 19. 1. An associate osteopathic physician may 38 prescribe or dispense the controlled substances listed in subsection 39 2 under the conditions prescribed by this section if the associate 40 osteopathic physician: 41 (a) Is registered with the State Board of Pharmacy pursuant to 42 NRS 639.1373; 43 – 16 – - *AB170* (b) Has entered into a collaborative practice agreement 1 pursuant to section 15 of this act authorizing the associate 2 osteopathic physician to prescribe the controlled substance; and 3 (c) Meets all other requirements prescribed by federal and 4 state law to prescribe controlled substances. 5 2. Subject to the limitations prescribed in NRS 639.1373, an 6 associate osteopathic physician who meets the requirements of 7 subsection 1 may prescribe or dispense: 8 (a) Any controlled substance listed in schedule III, IV or V; 9 and 10 (b) Any controlled substance listed in schedule II that contains 11 hydrocodone. 12 3. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, an 13 associate osteopathic physician shall not prescribe or dispense 14 more than a 5-day supply of a controlled substance listed in 15 schedule II or III. An associate osteopathic physician may 16 prescribe or dispense a 30-day supply of buprenorphine for the 17 treatment of a substance use disorder under the direction of his or 18 her supervising osteopathic physician. 19 4. An associate osteopathic physician shall not prescribe or 20 dispense controlled substances unless: 21 (a) The supervising osteopathic physician of the associate 22 osteopathic physician is physically present on the same premises; 23 or 24 (b) The associate osteopathic physician has, at any time, 25 completed 120 hours practicing osteopathic medicine over a period 26 of not more than 4 months with his or her supervising osteopathic 27 physician physically present on the same premises. 28 Sec. 20. 1. A limited license to practice osteopathic 29 medicine as an associate osteopathic physician issued pursuant to 30 section 14 of this act expires 2 years after it is issued. 31 2. The Board may renew a limited license to practice 32 osteopathic medicine as an associate osteopathic physician upon 33 application by the associate osteopathic physician. An application 34 for renewal must include, without limitation, proof that the 35 associate osteopathic physician has actually engaged in the 36 practice of osteopathic medicine under a collaborative practice 37 agreement entered into pursuant to section 15 of this act during 38 the immediately preceding 2 years. 39 Sec. 21. 1. The Board shall adopt regulations necessary: 40 (a) To carry out the provisions of sections 14 to 21, inclusive, 41 of this act, including, without limitation: 42 (1) Any additional requirements for the issuance or 43 renewal of a limited license to practice osteopathic medicine as an 44 associate osteopathic physician. 45 – 17 – - *AB170* (2) The standards for the approval of programs of 1 postgraduate medical education pursuant to paragraph (c) of 2 subsection 4 of section 14 of this act. 3 (3) The required fees for the issuance and renewal of such 4 a license. 5 (4) Standards of practice for associate osteopathic 6 physicians, including, without limitation, limitations on the 7 practice of osteopathic medicine by an associate osteopathic 8 physician in addition to those prescribed by sections 14 to 21, 9 inclusive, of this act. 10 (5) Any additional requirements governing collaborative 11 practice agreements entered into pursuant to section 15 of this act. 12 (6) Requirements concerning the supervision of an 13 associate osteopathic physician by a supervising osteopathic 14 physician, including, without limitation, requirements governing 15 the review by the supervising osteopathic physician of the standard 16 of care the associate osteopathic physician is providing to patients. 17 Such regulations must not be more stringent than any similar 18 requirements that apply to physician assistants. 19 (b) For an associate osteopathic physician to be eligible to 20 work in a clinic that receives federal funding. 21 2. The regulations adopted pursuant to this section and NRS 22 633.471 must not require an associate osteopathic physician to 23 complete a greater amount of continuing education than an 24 osteopathic physician licensed pursuant to NRS 633.311. 25 3. The Board shall publish on an Internet website maintained 26 by the Board the name of each associate osteopathic physician and 27 the osteopathic physician or osteopathic physicians supervising 28 the associate osteopathic physician. 29 Sec. 22. NRS 633.123 is hereby amended to read as follows: 30 633.123 “Supervising osteopathic physician” means an 31 osteopathic physician who is licensed in this State, is in good 32 standing with the Board and [supervises] : 33 1. Supervises a physician assistant with Board approval [.] ; or 34 2. Supervises an associate osteopathic physician. 35 Sec. 23. NRS 633.311 is hereby amended to read as follows: 36 633.311 1. Except as otherwise provided in NRS 633.315 37 and 633.381 to 633.419, inclusive, and sections 14 to 21, inclusive, 38 of this act, an applicant for a license to practice osteopathic 39 medicine may be issued a license by the Board if: 40 (a) The applicant is 21 years of age or older; 41 (b) The applicant is a graduate of a school of osteopathic 42 medicine; 43 (c) The applicant: 44 – 18 – - *AB170* (1) Has graduated from a school of osteopathic medicine 1 before 1995 and has completed: 2 (I) A hospital internship; or 3 (II) One year of postgraduate training that complies with 4 the standards of intern training established by the American 5 Osteopathic Association; 6 (2) Has completed 3 years, or such other length of time as 7 required by a specific program, of postgraduate medical education 8 as a resident in the United States or Canada in a program approved 9 by the Board, the Bureau of Professional Education of the American 10 Osteopathic Association or the Accreditation Council for Graduate 11 Medical Education; or 12 (3) Is a resident who is enrolled in a postgraduate training 13 program in this State, has completed 24 months of the program and 14 has committed, in writing, that he or she will complete the program; 15 (d) The applicant applies for the license as provided by law; 16 (e) The applicant passes: 17 (1) All parts of the licensing examination of the National 18 Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners; 19 (2) All parts of the licensing examination of the Federation 20 of State Medical Boards; 21 (3) All parts of the licensing examination of the Board, a 22 state, territory or possession of the United States, or the District of 23 Columbia, and is certified by a specialty board of the American 24 Osteopathic Association or by the American Board of Medical 25 Specialties; or 26 (4) A combination of the parts of the licensing examinations 27 specified in subparagraphs (1), (2) and (3) that is approved by the 28 Board; 29 (f) The applicant pays the fees provided for in this chapter; and 30 (g) The applicant submits all information required to complete 31 an application for a license. 32 2. An applicant for a license to practice osteopathic medicine 33 may satisfy the requirements for postgraduate education or training 34 prescribed by paragraph (c) of subsection 1: 35 (a) In one or more approved postgraduate programs, which may 36 be conducted at one or more facilities in this State or, except for a 37 resident who is enrolled in a postgraduate training program in this 38 State pursuant to subparagraph (3) of paragraph (c) of subsection 1, 39 in the District of Columbia or another state or territory of the United 40 States; 41 (b) In one or more approved specialties or disciplines; 42 (c) In nonconsecutive months; and 43 (d) At any time before receiving his or her license. 44 – 19 – - *AB170* Sec. 24. NRS 633.467 is hereby amended to read as follows: 1 633.467 An osteopathic physician who does not normally 2 provide care to patients may not be [a] the supervising osteopathic 3 physician [.] of a physician assistant. 4 Sec. 25. NRS 633.471 is hereby amended to read as follows: 5 633.471 1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 15 , 6 [and] NRS 633.491 [,] and section 20 of this act, every holder of a 7 license, except a physician assistant or an anesthesiologist assistant, 8 issued under this chapter, except a temporary or a special license, 9 may renew the license on or before January 1 of each calendar year 10 after its issuance by: 11 (a) Applying for renewal on forms provided by the Board; 12 (b) Paying the annual license renewal fee specified in this 13 chapter; 14 (c) Submitting a list of all actions filed or claims submitted to 15 arbitration or mediation for malpractice or negligence against the 16 holder during the previous year; 17 (d) Subject to subsection 14, submitting evidence to the Board 18 that in the year preceding the application for renewal the holder has 19 attended courses or programs of continuing education approved by 20 the Board in accordance with regulations adopted by the Board 21 totaling a number of hours established by the Board which must not 22 be less than 35 hours nor more than that set in the requirements for 23 continuing medical education of the American Osteopathic 24 Association; [and] 25 (e) Submitting a list of the names of each associate osteopathic 26 physician supervised by the holder, if applicable; and 27 (f) Submitting all information required to complete the renewal. 28 2. The Secretary of the Board shall notify each licensee of the 29 requirements for renewal not less than 30 days before the date of 30 renewal. 31 3. The Board shall request submission of verified evidence of 32 completion of the required number of hours of continuing medical 33 education annually from a percentage of the applicants for renewal 34 of a license to practice osteopathic medicine or a license to practice 35 as a physician assistant or anesthesiologist assistant determined by 36 the Board. Subject to subsection 14, upon a request from the Board, 37 an applicant for renewal of a license to practice osteopathic 38 medicine or a license to practice as a physician assistant or 39 anesthesiologist assistant shall submit verified evidence satisfactory 40 to the Board that in the year preceding the application for renewal 41 the applicant attended courses or programs of continuing medical 42 education approved by the Board totaling the number of hours 43 established by the Board. 44 – 20 – - *AB170* 4. The Board shall require each holder of a license to practice 1 osteopathic medicine to complete a course of instruction within 2 2 years after initial licensure that provides at least 2 hours of 3 instruction on evidence-based suicide prevention and awareness as 4 described in subsection 9. 5 5. The Board shall encourage each holder of a license to 6 practice osteopathic medicine to receive, as a portion of his or her 7 continuing education, training concerning methods for educating 8 patients about how to effectively manage medications, including, 9 without limitation, the ability of the patient to request to have the 10 symptom or purpose for which a drug is prescribed included on the 11 label attached to the container of the drug. 12 6. The Board shall encourage each holder of a license to 13 practice osteopathic medicine or as a physician assistant to receive, 14 as a portion of his or her continuing education, training and 15 education in the diagnosis of rare diseases, including, without 16 limitation: 17 (a) Recognizing the symptoms of pediatric cancer; and 18 (b) Interpreting family history to determine whether such 19 symptoms indicate a normal childhood illness or a condition that 20 requires additional examination. 21 7. The Board shall require, as part of the continuing education 22 requirements approved by the Board, the biennial completion by a 23 holder of a license to practice osteopathic medicine of at least 2 24 hours of continuing education credits in ethics, pain management, 25 care of persons with addictive disorders or the screening, brief 26 intervention and referral to treatment approach to substance use 27 disorder. 28 8. The continuing education requirements approved by the 29 Board must allow the holder of a license as an osteopathic 30 physician, physician assistant or anesthesiologist assistant to receive 31 credit toward the total amount of continuing education required by 32 the Board for the completion of a course of instruction relating to 33 genetic counseling and genetic testing. 34 9. The Board shall require each holder of a license to practice 35 osteopathic medicine to receive as a portion of his or her continuing 36 education at least 2 hours of instruction every 4 years on evidence-37 based suicide prevention and awareness which may include, without 38 limitation, instruction concerning: 39 (a) The skills and knowledge that the licensee needs to detect 40 behaviors that may lead to suicide, including, without limitation, 41 post-traumatic stress disorder; 42 (b) Approaches to engaging other professionals in suicide 43 intervention; and 44 – 21 – - *AB170* (c) The detection of suicidal thoughts and ideations and the 1 prevention of suicide. 2 10. A holder of a license to practice osteopathic medicine may 3 not substitute the continuing education credits relating to suicide 4 prevention and awareness required by this section for the purposes 5 of satisfying an equivalent requirement for continuing education in 6 ethics. 7 11. The Board shall require each holder of a license to practice 8 osteopathic medicine to complete at least 2 hours of training in the 9 screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment approach to 10 substance use disorder within 2 years after initial licensure. 11 12. The Board shall require each psychiatrist or a physician 12 assistant practicing under the supervision of a psychiatrist to 13 biennially complete one or more courses of instruction that provide 14 at least 2 hours of instruction relating to cultural competency and 15 diversity, equity and inclusion. Such instruction: 16 (a) May include the training provided pursuant to NRS 449.103, 17 where applicable. 18 (b) Must be based upon a range of research from diverse 19 sources. 20 (c) Must address persons of different cultural backgrounds, 21 including, without limitation: 22 (1) Persons from various gender, racial and ethnic 23 backgrounds; 24 (2) Persons from various religious backgrounds; 25 (3) Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning 26 persons; 27 (4) Children and senior citizens; 28 (5) Veterans; 29 (6) Persons with a mental illness; 30 (7) Persons with an intellectual disability, developmental 31 disability or physical disability; and 32 (8) Persons who are part of any other population that a 33 psychiatrist or physician assistant practicing under the supervision 34 of a psychiatrist may need to better understand, as determined by the 35 Board. 36 13. The Board shall require each holder of a license to practice 37 osteopathic medicine or as a physician assistant who provides or 38 supervises the provision of emergency medical services in a hospital 39 or primary care to complete at least 2 hours of training in the stigma, 40 discrimination and unrecognized bias toward persons who have 41 acquired or are at a high risk of acquiring human immunodeficiency 42 virus within 2 years after beginning to provide or supervise the 43 provision of such services or care. 44 – 22 – - *AB170* 14. The Board shall not require a physician assistant to receive 1 or maintain certification by the National Commission on 2 Certification of Physician Assistants, or its successor organization, 3 or by any other nationally recognized organization for the 4 accreditation of physician assistants to satisfy any continuing 5 education requirement pursuant to paragraph (d) of subsection 1 and 6 subsection 3. 7 15. Members of the Armed Forces of the United States and the 8 United States Public Health Service are exempt from payment of the 9 annual license renewal fee during their active duty status. 10 16. As used in this section, “primary care” means the practice 11 of family medicine, pediatrics, internal medicine, obstetrics and 12 gynecology and midwifery. 13 Sec. 26. NRS 639.1373 is hereby amended to read as follows: 14 639.1373 1. A physician assistant or an associate physician 15 licensed pursuant to chapter 630 or 633 of NRS may, if authorized 16 by the Board, possess, administer, prescribe or dispense controlled 17 substances, or possess, administer, prescribe or dispense poisons, 18 dangerous drugs or devices in or out of the presence of his or her 19 supervising physician only to the extent and subject to the 20 limitations specified in the registration certificate issued to the 21 physician assistant or associate physician by the Board pursuant to 22 this section. 23 2. Each physician assistant and associate physician licensed 24 pursuant to chapter 630 or 633 of NRS who is authorized by his or 25 her physician assistant’s or associate physician’s license issued by 26 the Board of Medical Examiners or by the State Board of 27 Osteopathic Medicine, respectively, to possess, administer, 28 prescribe or dispense controlled substances, or to possess, 29 administer, prescribe or dispense poisons, dangerous drugs or 30 devices must apply for and obtain a registration certificate from the 31 Board, pay a fee to be set by regulations adopted by the Board and 32 pass an examination administered by the Board on the law relating 33 to pharmacy before the physician assistant or associate physician 34 can possess, administer, prescribe or dispense controlled substances, 35 or possess, administer, prescribe or dispense poisons, dangerous 36 drugs or devices. 37 3. The Board shall consider each application separately and 38 may, even though the physician assistant’s or associate physician’s 39 license issued by the Board of Medical Examiners or by the State 40 Board of Osteopathic Medicine authorizes the physician assistant or 41 associate physician to possess, administer, prescribe or dispense 42 controlled substances, or to possess, administer, prescribe or 43 dispense poisons, dangerous drugs and devices: 44 (a) Refuse to issue a registration certificate; 45 – 23 – - *AB170* (b) Issue a registration certificate limiting the authority of the 1 physician assistant or associate physician to possess, administer, 2 prescribe or dispense controlled substances, or to possess, 3 administer, prescribe or dispense poisons, dangerous drugs or 4 devices, the area in which the physician assistant or associate 5 physician may possess controlled substances, poisons, dangerous 6 drugs and devices, or the kind and amount of controlled substances, 7 poisons, dangerous drugs and devices; or 8 (c) Issue a registration certificate imposing other limitations or 9 restrictions which the Board feels are necessary and required to 10 protect the health, safety and welfare of the public. 11 4. If the registration of the physician assistant or associate 12 physician licensed pursuant to chapter 630 or 633 of NRS is 13 suspended or revoked, the physician’s controlled substance 14 registration may also be suspended or revoked. 15 5. The Board shall adopt regulations controlling the maximum 16 amount to be administered, possessed and dispensed, and the 17 storage, security, recordkeeping and transportation of controlled 18 substances and the maximum amount to be administered, possessed, 19 prescribed and dispensed and the storage, security, recordkeeping 20 and transportation of poisons, dangerous drugs and devices by 21 physician assistants and associate physicians licensed pursuant to 22 chapter 630 or 633 of NRS. In the adoption of those regulations, the 23 Board shall consider, but is not limited to, the following: 24 (a) The area in which the physician assistant or associate 25 physician is to operate; 26 (b) The population of that area; 27 (c) The experience and training of the physician assistant [;] or 28 associate physician; 29 (d) The distance to the nearest hospital and physician; and 30 (e) The effect on the health, safety and welfare of the public. 31 6. For the purposes of this section [, the] : 32 (a) The term “associate physician” includes an associate 33 osteopathic physician. 34 (b) The term “supervising physician” includes a supervising 35 osteopathic physician as defined in chapter 633 of NRS. 36 Sec. 27. NRS 0.040 is hereby amended to read as follows: 37 0.040 1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 2, 38 “physician” means a person who engages in the practice of 39 medicine, including osteopathy and homeopathy. 40 2. The terms “physician,” “associate physician,” “osteopathic 41 physician,” “associate osteopathic physician,” “homeopathic 42 physician,” “chiropractic physician” and “podiatric physician” are 43 used in chapters 630, 630A, 633, 634 and 635 of NRS in the limited 44 senses prescribed by those chapters respectively. 45 – 24 – - *AB170* Sec. 28. 1. This section becomes effective upon passage and 1 approval. 2 2. Sections 1 to 27, inclusive, of this act become effective: 3 (a) Upon passage and approval for the purpose of adopting any 4 regulations and performing any other preparatory administrative 5 tasks that are necessary to carry out the provisions of this act; and 6 (b) On January 1, 2026, for all other purposes. 7 H