Senate Bill 196, otherwise known as Global Signature, was passed in December 2024. The legislation was a collaborative effort between the Ohio Association of Advanced Practice Nurses (OAAPN) and the Ohio State Medical Association to empower Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) the authority to sign and complete patient care-related forms within their scope of practice; directly addressing barriers to efficiency in patient care delivery.
Some examples of the forms that will be impacted are disability certifications, sports physicals, health status documentation, and more. This change will streamline administrative processes, reduce delays, and improve healthcare delivery.
Having already been signed by Governor DeWine, the bill now goes to the Ohio Board of Nursing to write specific rules to enact it. Ohio now aligns with practices in 16 other states and the District of Columbia, promoting more efficient, transparent, and accountable healthcare to Ohioans.