In an Op-ed in the Austin-American statesman just this week, Austin native and neonatal nurse Toni Inglis highlighted what seems to be one easy solution to our health care provider shortages as the nation still struggles to find a path forward for health care reform.
"In the shadow of Congress failing to improve health care, Texas lawmakers have a golden opportunity to sharply increase access to care: They could substantially increase the number of primary-care providers — and it wouldn’t cost a dime," said Inglis.
She added, "If every single nurse practitioner and family doctor were deployed, Texas still could not meet the need for primary care; the growing demand far outstrips the supply." " If SB 681 and HB 1415 become law, Texas could keep the advanced practice nurses it educates and could recruit advanced practice nurses from other states."