Source: http://scopeofpracticepolicy.org/states/wv/
Timestamp: 2018-11-16 17:40:19
Document Index: 470016818

Matched Legal Cases: ['§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§33', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30']

West Virginia Scope of Practice Policy - State Profile
West Virginia Scope of Practice Policy: State Profile
In general, dental hygienists in West Virginia must provide dental hygiene services under the direct supervision of a licensed dentist. Under West Virginia scope of practice law, a dental hygienist may be permitted to provide preventive dental hygiene services under a dentist’s general supervision (i.e., the dentist is not physically present when the services are… More »
In general, dental hygienists in West Virginia must provide dental hygiene services under the direct supervision of a licensed dentist. Under West Virginia scope of practice law, a dental hygienist may be permitted to provide preventive dental hygiene services under a dentist’s general supervision (i.e., the dentist is not physically present when the services are performed) if the dental hygienist meets requisite practice experience requirements (e.g., 2 years and 3,000 hours), completes a course for the identification and prevention of medical emergencies, the patient received a prior examination by the dentist, the dentist provides written protocols and standing orders, and the dental hygienist consults with the dentist if the patient’s condition changes.
A public health dental hygienist may provide services under the general supervision of a dentist and without the patient’s prior examination by a dentist in certain public settings (e.g., hospitals, schools, jails, community clinics, long-term care facilities, group homes, public health facilities, and homebound settings). The public health dental hygienist must have 2 years and 3,000 hours of practice experience and with the supervising dentist submit an annual report to the state board of dental examiners. A dental hygienist may apply fluoride, prepare an oral screening, and provide dental health education and nutritional counseling with no supervision of a licensed dentist. West Virginia scope of practice laws do not allow dental hygienists to prescribe medication and currently do not provide for the licensing of dental therapists.
In West Virginia, licensed professional counselors may assess, diagnose and develop a treatment plan for patients. The goal of these procedures is the prevention or elimination of symptomatic, maladaptive or undesired behavior, cognitions or emotions to integrate a wellness, preventative, pathology and multicultural model of human behavior.
Nurse practitioners (NPs) in West Virginia may provide direct and indirect care to patients without the collaboration or supervision of a physician except for the prescribing of medications. To prescribe drugs, an NP must establish a collaborative relationship with a qualified physician pursuant to a written collaborative agreement. NPs are recognized as primary care providers in West Virginia.
West Virginia NPs are authorized to prescribe Schedule III-V controlled substances, however, the NP must practice for three years in a collaborative relationship with a physician before full independent practice authority can be granted. With proper training or appropriate experience an NP in independent practice can receive a federal waiver to dispense buprenorphine-containing products. An NP who is prescribing while in collaborative practice with a physician may be able to receive a federal waiver with proper training or experience and as long as the collaborating physician is certified, trained, or permitted to treat and manage patients with opioid use disorder.
In West Virginia, there are currently no statutory or regulatory standards for the certification of peer recovery specialists. The standards and requirements for certification of a peer recovery specialists are developed and administered by a third-party, nonprofit certification provider.
West Virginia physician assistants (PAs) may provide medical acts as delegated by a supervising physician and pursuant to a written practice agreement that is submitted to and approved by the appropriate state licensing board (i.e., the West Virginia Board of Medicine or West Virginia Board of Osteopathic Medicine). The practice agreement must include a description of the medical acts delegated to the PA, the PA and supervising physician’s practice setting, the mechanisms for the supervising physician’s continuous supervision of the PA, and the PA and supervising physician’s qualifications.
Supervising physicians must oversee the activities of, and accept responsibility for, the medical acts rendered by the PA. A supervising physician’s constant physical presence is not required as long as the supervising physician and PA can easily contact one another by telecommunication.
A PA in West Virginia may prescribe drugs, devices and Schedules III-V controlled substances as delegated by a supervising physician. With proper training or appropriate experience a PA in West Virginia can receive a federal waiver to dispense buprenorphine-containing products, as long as the supervising physician is certified, trained or permitted to treat and manage patients with opioid use disorder.
West Virginia SOP Legislation
Licensed professional counselors may diagnose patients. W.Va. Code §30-31-3(c)
As of August 2018, 45 NPs in West Virginia have received a federal waiver to treat opioid dependency with buprenorphine-containing products. Consistent with their prescriptive authority and with proper training or appropriate experience an NP in independent practice can receive a federal waiver to dispense buprenorphine-containing products. An NP who is prescribing while in collaborative practice with a physician may be able to receive a federal waiver with proper training or experience and as long as the collaborating physician is certified, trained, or permitted to treat and manage patients with opioid use disorder. W. Va. Code §30-7-15b
As of August 2018, 15 PAs in West Virginia have received a federal waiver to treat opioid dependency with buprenorphine-containing products. A PA in West Virginia may prescribe Schedules III-V controlled substances as delegated by a supervising physician. With proper training or appropriate experience a PA in West Virginia can receive a federal waiver to dispense buprenorphine-containing products, as long as the supervising physician is certified, trained, or permitted to treat and manage patients with opioid use disorder. W. Va. Code §30-3E-3(7)
The standards and requirements for certification of a peer recovery specialists are developed and administered by a third-party, non-profit certification provider.
Collaboration with a physician required for prescribing medications. W. Va. Code §30-7-15a
An NP is required to have a three year transition to practice period before they are authorized to independently prescribe legend and Schedule III-V controlled substances. West Virginia does not allow NPs to prescribe Schedule II controlled substances. W. Va. Code §30-7-15b
NPs are recognized in state policy as primary care providers. Primary care provider means a person who may be chosen or designated in lieu of a primary care physician, who will be responsible for coordinating the health care of the subscriber, including necessary referrals to other providers, and includes an advanced nurse practitioner. W. Va. Code §33-25A-2(19)
A dental hygienist may practice in a public health setting with a public health practice permit issued by the board, and subject to a collaborative agreement with a supervising dentist and the patient is referred for a dental examination within six months of sealant application. W. Va. Code §30-4-11
Dental therapists are not recognized in state policy as an oral health provider.
A practice agreement is required between a supervising physician and a PA. The agreement must be approved by the appropriate licensing board and must include supervision mechanisms and settings where the PA will practice, among other items. W. Va. Code §30-3E-10
A PA may prescribe drugs, devices and Schedules III-V controlled substances if delegated by the supervising physician. A PA may not prescribe Schedule II controlled substances. W. Va. Code §30-3E-3(7)
Medical acts delegated by the supervising physician are authorized in the practice agreement and appropriate to the education, training and experience of the PA. The medical acts must be consistent with the laws of West Virginia and rules of the State Board of Medicine. W. Va. Code §30-3E-12