When Executive Order and State of Emergency end, CAPAs will once again be required.
APRNs who had collaborative agreements in place prior to the Executive Order should maintain those relationships and agreements for use once the EO and State of Emergency end.
On March 6, 2020, Governor Andy Beshear signed Executive Order 2020-215, declaring a State of Emergency in the Commonwealth due to the outbreak of novel coronavirus (COVID- 19), a public health emergency. Pursuant to the State of Emergency, the Governor issued multiple Orders to exercise all powers necessary to promote and secure the safety and protection of the civilian population, including the power to suspend state statutes and regulations, and to command individuals to disperse from the scene of an emergency, including, but not limited to, Executive Orders 2020-243 and 2020-257.
Under the authority of those Executive Orders, the statutes and the regulation that require Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) have collaborative agreements with physicians as a prerequisite for the prescribing of legend drugs and controlled substances within the Commonwealth were suspended.
APRNs in Kentucky may prescribe controlled substances without need for a CAPA-CS under the authority of the Executive Order and only while the order is in effect. The Executive Order is in effect while the state of Emergency exists in the state.
Should the State of Emergency end or the Order be rescinded, the requirement for APRNs to have a CAPA-CS will once again be in effect.
The March 31, 2020 Executive Order is included in PDF form below.