An Act to remove barriers to patient care

HD 3383 allows advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) to fulfill requirements previously limited to physicians for health insurance coverage and reimbursement. Specifically, it amends multiple chapters of Massachusetts law to permit APRNs to provide diagnostic evaluations, medical necessity determinations, prescriptions, and other services that insurers previously required to be done by physicians. The bill changes specific legal language to include "or advanced practice registered nurse" and replaces "treating physician" with "treating provider" in coverage rules. It explicitly states this change does not expand APRNs' existing scope of practice. This directly affects APRNs, healthcare providers, and insurers under Massachusetts health coverage systems.