Maryland has become the 21st state to grant patients full and direct access to nurse practitioner-provided care.
Earlier this month, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) signed legislation into law, making Maryland the 21st full-practice authority state and the seventh state to right-size regulations affecting nurse practitioner patients in the last four years, according to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.
Here are three things to know about the new law.
1. The law will improve access to care and provider choice among patients in Maryland, according to AANP.
2. The law will also enhance Maryland's ability to recruit nurse practitioners from neighboring states, AANP said. Those neighbors have not yet adopted right-sized nurse practitioner laws with the exception of Washington, D.C.
3. AANP President Ken Miller, PhD, RN, said of the law, "The legislative leadership we've seen in states like Maryland illustrates how lawmakers are increasingly rallying behind nurse practitioners as essential providers, especially equipped to meet the healthcare needs of constituents. We urge all states considering similar legislation to champion this tried-and-true, no-cost healthcare solution that is gaining momentum all throughout the nation."
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