The Federal Trade Commission has weighed in, saying the elimination of certain supervision requirements for nurse practitioners and nurse anesthetists would likely benefit competition in Massachusetts.
Massachusetts State Rep. Kay Khan requested the FTC's comments on House Bill 2009, which would permit NPs and NAs to issue written prescriptions and order tests and therapeutics without a supervisory agreement with a Massachusetts physician.
The bill would also let NPs and NAs dispense certain controlled substances without such supervisory agreements.
The FTC's comment cited serious physician shortages in some areas of practice and regions in Massachusetts. Excessive supervision requirements can exacerbate the shortages, particularly for underserved populations that already lack adequate and cost-effective primary care services, according to the FTC comment.
"[W]e encourage the Massachusetts legislature to consider adopting provisions that would permit [advanced practice registered nurses] to deliver the full range of healthcare services they are trained and certified to provide," FTC staff wrote.
The commission vote approving the comment was 4-0.
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