California is increasing access to reproductive healthcare through a new law that expands practice authority for nurse practitioners.
The legislation, signed into law Sept. 27, allows qualified NPs and certified nurse-midwives to provide first trimester abortions without physician supervision. The law takes effect in January.
About 20,000 of California's 30,000 NPs could qualify to perform abortions, according to Cynthina Jovanov, DNP, president of the California Association of Nurse Practitioners.
Nine other states already permit NPs to perform abortions without physician supervison, according to CBS 8 San Diego.