Sec. 19.8. (a) Before December 31 of an even-numbered year, the Indiana professional licensing agency or the agency's designee shall randomly audit at least one percent (1%) but not more than ten percent (10%) of the practice agreements of advanced practice registered nurses with authority to prescribe legend drugs under section 19.5 of this chapter to determine whether the practice agreement meets the requirements of this chapter or rules adopted by the board.
(b) The Indiana professional licensing agency shall establish an audit procedure, which may include the following:
(1) Requiring the advanced practice registered nurse to provide the agency with a copy of verification of attendance at or completion of a continuing education course or program the advanced practice registered nurse attended during the previous two (2) years.
(2) Requiring the advanced practice registered nurse and the licensed practitioner who have entered into a practice agreement to submit information on a form prescribed by the agency that must include a sworn statement signed by the advanced practice registered nurse and the licensed practitioner that the parties are operating within the terms of the practice agreement and the requirements under this chapter or rules adopted by the board.
(3) Reviewing patient health records and other patient information at the practice location or by requiring the submission of accurate copies to determine if the parties are operating within the terms of the practice agreement and the requirements under this chapter or rules adopted by the board.
(4) After a reasonable determination that the advanced practice registered nurse and the licensed practitioner who have entered into a practice agreement are not operating within the terms of the practice agreement, requiring the parties to appear before the agency or the agency's designee to provide evidence of compliance with the practice agreement.
(c) Not more than sixty (60) days after the completion of the audit required in subsection (a), the Indiana professional licensing agency shall provide the board with the following:
(1) A summary of the information obtained in the audit.
(2) A statement regarding whether an advanced practice registered nurse and a licensed practitioner who have entered into a practice agreement that is audited under subsection (a) are operating within the terms of the practice agreement.
The agency shall also provide a copy of the information described in this subsection to the board that regulates the licensed practitioner.
(d) The Indiana professional licensing agency may cause to be served upon the advanced practice registered nurse an order to show cause to the board as to why the board should not impose disciplinary sanctions under IC 25-1-9-9 on the advanced practice registered nurse for the advanced practice registered nurse's failure to comply with:
(1) an audit conducted under this section; or
(2) the requirements of a practice agreement under this chapter.
(e) Except for a violation concerning continuing education requirements under IC 25-1-4, the board shall hold a hearing in accordance with IC 4-21.5 and state the date, time, and location of the hearing in the order served under subsection (d).
(f) The board that regulates the licensed practitioner may cause to be served upon the licensed practitioner an order to show cause to the board as to why the board should not impose disciplinary sanctions under IC 25-1-9-9 on the licensed practitioner for the licensed practitioner's failure to comply with:
(1) an audit conducted under this section; or
(2) the requirements of a practice agreement under this chapter.
(g) The board that regulates the licensed practitioner shall hold a hearing in accordance with IC 4-21.5 and state the date, time, and location of the hearing in the order served under subsection (f).
(h) An order to show cause issued under this section must comply with the notice requirements of IC 4-21.5.
(i) The licensed practitioner may divulge health records and other patient information to the Indiana professional licensing agency or the agency's designee. The licensed practitioner is immune from civil liability for any action based upon release of the patient information under this section.
As added by P.L.158-2003, SEC.7. Amended by P.L.1-2006, SEC.453; P.L.157-2006, SEC.62; P.L.129-2018, SEC.34.