Kentucky

Kentucky credentials two types of addiction counselor. A Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor must have a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field and meet all education, work experience, and supervision requirements of the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium for the Alcohol and Drug Counselor. A Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor must have a master’s degree and meet all education and supervision requirements of the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium for the Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor. Ky. Rev. Stat. §309.080 – .089 and Kentucky Board of Alcohol and Drug Counselors

A licensed professional clinical counselor may provide counseling services that involve the assessment, evaluation, treatment planning, amelioration, and remediation of adjustment problems and emotional disorders. Counselors also assist individuals or groups to achieve more effective personal, social, educational, or career development and adjustment. Diagnostic ability is not outlined in statute. Ky. Rev. Stat. §335.500

As of August 2018, 156 NPs in Kentucky have received a federal waiver to treat opioid dependency with buprenorphine-containing products. Consistent with their prescriptive authority and with proper training or experience an NP may obtain a federal waiver to dispense buprenorphine-containing products, as long as the collaborating physician is certified, trained, or permitted to treat and manage patients with opioid use disorder. Ky. Rev. Stat. §314.042

As of August 2018, no PAs in Kentucky have received a federal waiver to treat opioid dependency with buprenorphine-containing products. Under current Kentucky law, PAs may not prescribe controlled substances and are unable to obtain a federal waiver to dispense buprenorphine-containing products. Ky. Rev. Stat. §311.858

In Kentucky, the eligibility, training and supervision requirements for adult peer support specialists, family peer support specialists, and youth peer support specialists are established by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. Training, supervision, and certification requirements for alcohol and drug peer support specialists are established by the Board of Alcohol and Drug Counselors. 908 Ky. Admin. Regs. 2:220, 908 Ky. Admin. Regs. 2:230,  908 Ky. Admin. Regs. 2:240, and 201 Ky. Admin. Regs, 35.010, et seq

Only physicians are authorized to sign physician orders for scope of treatment. Ky. Rev. Stat. §311.6225

“Advanced practice registered nursing” means the performance of additional acts by registered nurses who have gained advanced clinical knowledge and skills through an accredited education program. Additional authorized acts include but are not limited to
prescribing treatment, drugs, devices, and ordering diagnostic tests. Ky. Rev. Stat. §314.011

An advanced practice registered nurse can prescribe schedules II through V controlled substances and legend drugs once they have practiced as an APRN for at least one year and then, entered into a written “collaborative agreement for the advanced practice registered nurse’s prescriptive authority for controlled substances” and “collaborative agreement for the advanced practice registered nurse’s prescriptive authority for nonscheduled legend drugs” with a physician licensed in Kentucky that defines the scope of prescriptive authority for controlled substances.  Ky. Rev. Stat. §314.042

NPs are recognized in state policy as primary care providers. Ky. Rev. Stat. §314.198

Optometrists may perform all procedures included in their full scope of practice, including surgical and laser procedures. 201 Ky. Admin. Reg. 5:110

Optometrists may administer all pharmaceutical agents for the diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases, including epinephrine auto-injections to counter anaphylaxis. Ky. Rev. Stat. §320.210(2)(a)

Optometrists may prescribe Schedule III-V controlled substances and also Schedule II hydrocodone or hydrocodone combination medications. 201 Ky. Admin. Reg. 5:130

A public health dental hygienist with at least two years of practice experience and who meets other qualifications may, for a limited number of days, provide dental hygiene services and screening services to patients without the physical presence of a dentist. 201 KAR 8:562. A dental hygienist may provide certain services without the supervision of a dentist in volunteer community health settings. Ky. Rev. Stat. §313.040

Statute does not identify dental therapists as an oral health provider.

Kentucky allows for the practice of teledentistry and Medicaid reimburses for teledentistry services through live video and store-and-forward modalities. 907 KAR 3:170 and Ky. Rev. Stat. §205.510

Kentucky has not enacted legislation allowing pharmacists to administer the COVID-19 vaccine. However, the federal PREP Act does allow pharmacists to administer the COVID-19 vaccine through the duration of the public health emergency.

Kentucky does not allow pharmacists to modify prescriptions.

Kentucky does not allow pharmacists to prescribe hormonal contraceptives.

Kentucky does not allow pharmacists to prescribe tobacco cessation aids.

The Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure oversees physician supervision of PAs and outlines the supervision requirements including active and continuous supervision of a PA’s activities. Ky. Rev. Stat. §311.856

PAs may prescribe Schedule III-V controlled substances as delegated by the supervising physician and after receiving approval from the Board of Medicine. A PA may prescribe legend drugs and devices as delegated by the supervising physician. Ky. Rev. Stat. §311.858

A PA may perform medical services and procedures within the scope of practice described in the application to the board for supervisor approval. Ky. Rev. Stat. §311.858