Page posted: 9/1/05

Legal authority

Minn. Stat. Ch. 148, Minn. Stat. §256B.0625, subd. 7, Minn. Stat. §256B.0651, Minn. Stat. §256B.0654, Minn. R. 6305.0300

Definitions

Independent licensed practice nurse (LPN): LPN not employed by an HCN agency or Medicare-certified agency that provides covered HCN services.

Independent registered nurse (RN): RN not employed by an HCN agency or Medicare-certified agency that provides covered HCN services.

Covered services

Independent LPNs and RNs can perform covered services listed on CBSM – HCN.

Non-covered services

An independent LPN or RN cannot provide HCN services to their:

An independent LPN or RN cannot be paid for nursing services they provide to a person if the LPN or RN owns an HCN agency or Medicare-certified agency that provides HCN to that person.

Supervision

Only an RN may delegate and supervise services, per the Nurse Practice Act. An RN must supervise an independent LPN. The time the RN spends supervising the LPN is not a covered HCN service.

Provider standards and qualifications

Professional nurses who practice independently must take on the responsibilities that go along with being a small business, such as workers’ compensation, taxes and insurance.

LPN requirements

Independent LPNs must be:

RN requirements

Independent RNs must be:

Additional resources

CBSM – HCN
MHCP Provider Manual – Home care services – HCN services
Minnesota Board of Nursing
Minnesota Board of Nursing – Nurse Practice Act