Pennsylvania could join 20 other states in removing the collaborative requirements that keep its 9,500 nurse practitioners from practicing independently.
State Rep. Jesse Topper, R-Pa., is sponsoring House Bill 765 to end the collaborative requirement of the Professional Nursing Law, according to NewsWorks. A similar proposal is underway in the state Senate, according to the report.
Lawmakers who support the law believe it will help provide more primary care coverage for those newly covered under the state's expanded Medicaid program and for patients in rural areas.
However, physician groups, including the Pennsylvania Medical Society, oppose the proposed law in favor of team-based care, according to the report.
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