Photo: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune.
In an article covering the press conference announcement of APRN full practice bills HB 1415/SB 681, Mariana Alfaro of the Texas Tribune talks about what this legislation would mean for APRNs and their patients in Texas.
"Nurse practitioners are often the primary health providers in many rural and low-income Texas communities," said Alfaro. "Under current regulations, the physicians they contract with don’t need to be in the same city as the nurse or see the patients the nurse treats. Experts say the contracts drive up clinic prices or push nurses to other states."
Alfaro noted that while this is not the first time APRN have fought this legislative battle, there are several key differences this year.
"This time around, however, the bills don't call for an expansion of a nurse’s scope of practice, and they are backed by a coalition of 20 organizations representing consumers, health care businesses and advocates, including the AARP, the Texas Association of Business and the Texas Public Policy Foundation."