(a) As permitted by federal law or regulations, for health care services provided in a long-term health care facility that are reimbursed by Medicare, a physician and surgeon may delegate any of the following to a nurse practitioner:
(1) Alternating visits required by federal law and regulations with a physician and surgeon.
(2) Any duties consistent with federal law and regulations within the scope of practice of nurse practitioners, so long as all of the following conditions are met:
(A) A physician and surgeon approves, in writing, the admission of the individual to the facility.
(B) The medical care of each resident is supervised by a physician and surgeon.
(C) A physician and surgeon performs the initial visit and alternate required visits.
(b) This section does not authorize benefits not otherwise authorized by federal law or regulation.
(c) All responsibilities delegated to a nurse practitioner pursuant to this section shall be performed under the supervision of the physician and surgeon and pursuant to a standardized procedure among the physician and surgeon, nurse practitioner, and facility.
(d) No task that is required by federal law or regulation to be performed personally by a physician may be delegated to a nurse practitioner.
(e) Nothing in this section shall be construed as limiting the authority of a long-term health care facility to hire and employ nurse practitioners so long as that employment is consistent with federal law and within the scope of practice of a nurse practitioner.
(Amended by Stats. 1994, Ch. 646, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1995.)