The Ohio Association of Advanced Practice Nurses (OAAPN) is pleased to share that Senate Bill 196, otherwise known as Global Signature Authority, was passed by the Ohio legislature and subsequently signed by Governor DeWine in December 2024.
While its work began in the 1980s, OAAPN was officially organized and founded in 1996 and is the largest and only full-service statewide professional membership organization for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) of all specialties within Ohio.
OAAPN represents the interests of more than 31,000 APRNs currently practicing in Ohio and continually advocates at local, state, and federal levels for recognition of these healthcare professionals as providers of high-quality, cost-effective healthcare for all Ohioans. APRNs play a vital role in Ohio’s healthcare system by expanding access to care, particularly in underserved communities, blending clinical expertise with a patient-centered approach to address healthcare gaps.
SB 196 was sponsored by State Senator Kristina Roegner (R-Hudson) and amends sections of the Revised Code regarding the authority of APRNs. A collaborative effort between the OAAPN and the Ohio State Medical Association, the Global Signature Authority Act empowers APRNs with the authority to sign and complete patient care-related forms within their scope of practice, directly addressing barriers to efficiency in patient care delivery.
As part of routine practice, APRNs sign forms that document and facilitate patient care, including treatment orders, referrals, and the recognition of health status. In some states, including Ohio, statutes and regulations were written before APRNs were in practice and omitted them from signing forms for the care that they provide.
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.
Upon the Governor’s signature, the bill becomes law in 90 days and 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.
At its core, the mission of OAAPN is to promote advanced practice nursing through practice, education, advocacy, and leadership. OAAPN continually strives to remove barriers to APRN practice and has become a leading information resource within Ohio regarding APRN practice, legislative and reimbursement issues, as well as providing a gateway of opportunities to employment and continuing education.
Looking ahead, OAAPN leadership will continue to partner with like-minded organizations such as AARP Ohio, Ohio Children’s Alliance, Ohio Association of Community Health Centers, and Ohio Council of Home Care and Hospice, among many others to ensure patients get the best healthcare available to them when they need it.