Healthcare

SB 2192 would provide $240,000 in state funds to reimburse community health and social service providers for costs associated with meeting state accreditation requirements. It directly affects community-based organizations that need accreditation to operate, such as clinics, shelters, or support programs. The bill authorizes the Department of Health and Human Services to distribute grants covering these accreditation expenses for the 2025-2027 biennium. This is a funding measure, not a policy change to accreditation standards themselves.

SB 2316 proposed creating four regional service areas in North Dakota to provide long-term care for patients requiring ventilator support or psychiatric services. The bill would have required the state department to contract with providers in each region or pay for out-of-state care if local providers weren't available, while allowing collaboration with neighboring states. Facilities serving these patients could receive additional funding if they documented prior out-of-state care for the same patients. The bill specifically targeted patients with complex medical or psychiatric needs requiring ongoing specialized care. It failed to pass in the North Dakota legislature in February 2025.

SB 2388 would allow human-use ivermectin (a medication approved by the FDA for parasitic infections) to be sold without a prescription in North Dakota. This change would directly affect pharmacies, consumers seeking the medication, and healthcare providers by removing the current requirement for a doctor's prescription. The bill proposes creating a new law in North Dakota's code that explicitly permits over-the-counter sales of ivermectin for human use. It does not address medical use, safety, or other forms of ivermectin, focusing solely on changing pharmacy access rules.

SB 2099 would require North Dakota schools to provide cardiac arrest prevention and response training to student athletes and coaches. The bill proposes creating a new section in the state's legal code mandating this education as part of athletic programs. It directly affects student athletes and coaches in public and private schools across North Dakota by establishing specific training requirements. The key provision would standardize cardiac emergency preparedness, including instruction on using automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and emergency response protocols. This policy change aims to improve safety outcomes for student athletes during sports activities.

SB 2108 aimed to establish North Dakota as a member of a multi-state compact for physician assistant (PA) licensure. If passed, it would have allowed North Dakota-licensed PAs to practice in other participating states without obtaining separate licenses, directly benefiting PAs seeking to work across state lines and patients in those states. The bill would have created a new chapter (43-17.5) in North Dakota law to implement this compact agreement. However, the bill failed to pass on January 15, 2025, with 0 votes in favor and 47 against.