Health; advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants to order home healthcare services; authorize

The bill was reclassified from a regular substitute to a 'Committee Substitute' version, indicating it has been amended by the House Committee on Health. This is a procedural change rather than a substantive policy change.

Added Title 48 (revenue and taxation) to the list of titles being amended, expanding the bill's scope beyond crimes, health, and professions.

Added provision for tax credits for qualified caregiving expenses to include licensed physician assistants, creating a new financial benefit for this profession.

Expanded eligibility for home healthcare services by allowing physician assistants to order services under a written plan of care, in addition to physicians and nurses.

Added authority for physician assistants to order sterile water and diluted heparin for intravenous maintenance in home health settings, expanding their prescribing authority.

Updated the definition of 'Home health healthcare services' to explicitly include services ordered by physician assistants and added skilled nursing care and medical social services under physician assistant direction.