EDITOR’S NOTE

Moving in the Right Direction

Carrie Adkins-Ali Executive Editor

States with FPA

Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Washington, and Wyoming

States with Limited or Restricted Authority

Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin

As I was working on this issue of Convenient Care Clinician, both New York and Kansas adopted full practice authority for nurse practitioners. Now, in 26 states, NPs can evaluate patients; diagnose, order and interpret diagnostic tests; and initiate and manage treatments under the exclusive licensure authority of the state board of nursing—no collaborating physician needed. As Americans increasingly seek the care of NPs, this is welcome news for patients and providers alike.

“With FPA, providers do not have to rely on monthly chart audits or arrange visits with their collaborating physicians,” Meggen Brown, chief nursing officer and national health and wellness clinical director, Kroger Health/The Little Clinic, told CCC.

“This also helps on the financial side. Providers and companies will not have to take on the burden of paying collaborating physicians and can give back to the NPs completing the work. I truly believe it also gives patients more confidence when the states back their profession.”

Another huge win, Brown stresses, is that FPA improves access to care in rural and underserved areas. Some states require NPs to collaborate with a physician whose practice is located within as little as 30 to 50 miles from the NP’s workplace. Many rural areas simply don’t have any physicians in that range.

FPA also lets patients see the provider they choose, and for many, that’s an NP. A study published in the Journal of Evidence Based Nursing reported that patients are more satisfied with the care they receive from NPs than physicians and that health outcomes are equal. We’re halfway there, but there’s still work to do. At press time, NP practice is still limited in 24 states. If you’re practicing in one of them, take a few minutes to write to your state representatives to educate them about FPA. (You can find links to locate all your representatives at https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials)

Here are some tips on writing effective letters to your representatives: • Identify yourself as a constituent and tell them you’re writing about

FPA in the first paragraph. • Explain how FPA benefits the elected official’s particular community. You know more about the benefits of FPA than they do. • Be concise. Limit your letter to one page that addresses one issue. • List three important points. • If applicable, include a personal story. • Be courteous but firm. C

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EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD

Nate Bronstein, MSEd, MPA, MSSP, Convenient Care Association

Meggen Brown, MSN, FNP-BC, Kroger Health/The Little Clinic Kristene Diggins, DNP, FAANP, MBA, CNE, NEA-BC, CVS Health Tine Hansen-Turton, MGA, JD, FCPP, FAAN, Convenient Care Association

Pete Nordeen, Bellin Health/Bellin FastCare Angela Patterson, DNP, FNP-BC, NEA-BC, FAANP, CVS Health Mark R. Watkins, MD, Kroger Health/ The Little Clinic

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