PAinPenna Posted February 17, 2019 Share Posted February 17, 2019 Pennsylvania House Rep. Jesse Topper plans to again introduce legislation that would grant independent practice authority to certified registered nurse practitioners (CRNPs). Rep. Topper has issued a co-sponsorship memo asking his fellow House members to support the proposed bill. In a letter sent to House members on Feb. 11, 2019, the Pennsylvania Medical Society (PAMED) expressed our STRONG OPPOSITION to the proposal. The Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Pennsylvania Chapter of the American College of Physicians, Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians, and Pennsylvania Osteopathic Medical Association signed on to our letter and joined PAMED in opposing this effort. Read the letter. “We believe that current law requiring certified registered nurse practitioners (CRNPs) to collaborate with physicians when providing care is the most appropriate and effective way to ensure that patients receive the safest best possible care,” the letter says. “Removing physicians from healthcare teams simply doesn’t make sense.” There are significant education and training differences between physicians and CRNPs. Physicians complete 12,000 to 16,000 hours of clinical training. By comparison, CRNPs complete 500-720 hours of clinical training. Rep. Topper’s proposal fails to recognize the important role physicians play as the leaders of healthcare delivery teams and ignores the benefits of medical school education and training. “Legislating medical degrees to nurses will neither improve patient care nor expand access to care in Pennsylvania,” the letter says. PAMED asked lawmakers to oppose Rep. Topper’s proposal and encouraged legislators to meet with physicians in their legislative districts to discuss how CRNPs differ from medical doctors. PAMED President Danae Powers urges physicians to contact their representatives to reiterate why this proposed legislation is not appropriate for Pennsylvania. It is important that lawmakers hear directly from their physician constituents. You can find contact information for your legislator here. Scope of practice is one of PAMED’s advocacy priorities for 2019. We advocate for team-based care within a physician-led team, and we will oppose bills that would allow non-physician health care professionals in the state to practice independently. Learn more about PAMED’s advocacy priorities here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaepora Posted February 18, 2019 Share Posted February 18, 2019 This has already passed in the senate and has been in committee forever in the house. It will pass at some point, like it or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sas5814 Posted February 18, 2019 Share Posted February 18, 2019 It will eventually pass in every state. This is what makes OTP such a priority. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator rev ronin Posted February 18, 2019 Administrator Share Posted February 18, 2019 5 hours ago, sas5814 said: It will eventually pass in every state. This is what makes OTP such a priority. Indeed, which is why I have no particular desire to limit NPs from having 'collaborative' rather than 'supervisory' relationships. We shouldn't be trying to stop their train, but rather get our own going, because we're better trained and prepared than NPs to work under physician LEADERSHIP without physician OWNERSHIP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marinejiujitsu Posted February 21, 2019 Share Posted February 21, 2019 Good job NPs, you almost made hiring a PA a thing of the past. Yay.Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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