Bill Text: NJ A5265 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Permits certified medical assistants to administer vaccines under certain circumstances.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-01-12 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Health Committee [A5265 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2020-A5265-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman SERENA DIMASO
District 13 (Monmouth)
SYNOPSIS
Permits certified medical assistants to administer vaccines under certain circumstances.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning certified medical assistants and vaccines and supplementing Title 26 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. As used in this section:
"Advanced practice nurse" means a person who holds a certification in accordance with section 8 or 9 of P.L.1991, c.377 (C.45:11-47 or C.45:11-48).
"Certified medical assistant" means a person who is a graduate of a post-secondary medical assisting educational program accredited by the Commission on Allied Health Education and Accreditation, or its successor, the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools, or its successor, or any accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, which educational program includes, at a minimum, 330 clock hours of instruction, and encompasses training in the administration of intramuscular and subcutaneous injections, as well as instruction and demonstration in: pertinent anatomy and physiology appropriate to injection procedures; choice of equipment; proper technique, including sterile technique; hazards and complications; and emergency procedures; and who maintains current certification or registration, as appropriate, from the Certifying Board of the American Association of Medical Assistants, the National Center for Competency Testing, the National Healthcareer Association, the American Medical Certification Association, the National Association for Health Professionals, the National Certification Medical Association, the American Medical Technologists, or any other recognized certifying body approved by the State Board of Medical Examiners.
"Physician" means a physician licensed pursuant to Title 45 of the Revised Statutes.
"Physician assistant" means a health professional who meets the qualifications under P.L.1991, c.378 (C.45:9-27.10 et seq.) and holds a current, valid license issued pursuant to section 4 of P.L.1991, c.378 (C.45:9-27.13).
b. During an outbreak of a communicable disease occurring among the general public in any area of the State or during a declared public health emergency, all certified medical assistants in the State shall be authorized to administer any available vaccine, under the supervision of an advanced practice nurse, a physician, a physician assistant, or a registered nurse, that the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices in the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends to prevent against that communicable disease, which vaccine may be administered by a certified medical assistant to any patient, regardless of the patient's age, unless age restrictions have been recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. A certified medical assistant shall comply with any other restrictions or guidance concerning the vaccine as have been issued by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices or the Department of Health. A vaccine administered pursuant to this section may be administered pursuant to an individual prescription for the vaccine, a standing order for the vaccine issued by an authorized prescriber, or an immunization program or other program sponsored by an authorized governmental agency that is not patient specific.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill permits certified medical assistants to administer vaccines under certain circumstances.
Under the bill, during an outbreak of a communicable disease occurring among the general public in any area of the State or during a declared public health emergency, all certified medical assistants in the State are to be authorized to administer any available vaccine, under the supervision of an advanced practice nurse, a physician, a physician assistant, or a registered nurse, that the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices in the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends to prevent against that communicable disease, which vaccine may be administered by a certified medical assistant to any patient, regardless of the patient's age, unless age restrictions have been recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. A certified medical assistant is to comply with any other restrictions or guidance concerning the vaccine as have been issued by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices or the Department of Health. A vaccine administered pursuant to the bill's provisions may be administered pursuant to an individual prescription for the vaccine, a standing order for the vaccine issued by an authorized prescriber, or an immunization program or other program sponsored by an authorized governmental agency that is not patient specific.
