PS 757 – Summary
Title (in Spanish): Para enmendar los incisos (a), (ww) y (ccc) del Artículo 1.03; el inciso (b) del Artículo 5.02; y el inciso (a) del Artículo 6.06 de la Ley 247-2004, según enmendada, conocida como “Ley de Farmacia de Puerto Rico”, para incluir la figura del “Nurse Practitioner”, como prescribiente autorizado para expedir recetas; y para otros fines relacionados.
English translation of purpose: Aims to amend the Puerto Rico Pharmacy Law to explicitly authorize Nurse Practitioners to issue prescriptions.
Status and process
- Introduced: October 1, 2025
- Senate action: Appears in First Reading (Senate) on October 1, 2025
- Refer to committees: October 1, 2025
- Public consideration: Public Hearing held on November 12, 2025
- Public hearing location: Salón María Martínez de Pérez Almiroty
What the bill would do (key provisions)
- Purpose of amendments: Include Nurse Practitioners (NPs) as authorized prescribers under the Ley de Farmacia de Puerto Rico (Law 247-2004, as amended).
- Specific amendments:
- Article 1.03: Amend subparagraphs (a), (ww), and (ccc)
- Article 5.02: Amend subparagraph (b)
- Article 6.06: Amend subparagraph (a)
- Net effect: Recognize and authorize Nurse Practitioners to issue prescriptions, expanding the scope of practice for NPs within the pharmacy and prescription framework of Puerto Rico.
Who would be affected
- Healthcare professionals: Nurse Practitioners would gain explicit prescriptive authority under the pharmacy law.
- Patients: Potentially increased access to prescribed medications, particularly in settings where physicians are less available (e.g., primary care, rural or underserved areas).
- Pharmacies and pharmacists: Would interact with NPs as authorized prescribers, potentially updating processes for prescription verification and patient counseling.
- Healthcare system: Could influence workflows, collaboration requirements, and access-to-care dynamics.
Procedural/timelines and context
- Legislative route: Introduced in the Senate, then referred to appropriate committees for study; public hearing conducted to gather input.
- Timeline highlights:
- 2025-10-01: Radicado (filed) and appears in First Reading in the Senate; referred to committees
- 2025-11-12: Vista Pública (Public Hearing) held
- Status implications: The bill is in a phase where committee review and public input are ongoing; final passage would require committee action and votes in both chambers (as applicable) before approval.
Potential implications and considerations
- Access to medications: Could improve timely access to prescriptions, especially where NP care is available.
- Safeguards: Details on supervision, required credentials, prescribing restrictions (e.g., controlled substances, dosage limits) are not provided in the summary; future text would clarify scope and safeguards.
- Implementation: May require regulatory updates, training, and pharmacy-system adjustments to accommodate NP prescribers.
Next steps for readers
- Monitor committee reports and amendments for specifics on scope, limitations, and implementation timelines.
- Review any fiscal impact statements or regulatory guidelines that accompany final bill text.
