Bill would expand nurse practitioner authority nationwide

A bill in Congress that would authorize nurse practitioners to order cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation, certify when patients with diabetes need therapeutic shoes, ensure NPs’ patients are represented in the beneficiary attribution process for the Medicare Shared Savings Program, refer patients for medical nutrition therapy, certify and recertify a patient’s terminal illness for hospice eligibility, perform all mandatory examinations in skilled nursing facilities and more, has received the endorsement of more than 200 nursing organizations.

Nurse practitioner: ©DC Studio - stock.adobe.com

A letter signed by the organizations was submitted by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners to the House Ways and Means Committee to show support for H.R. 2713 – also known as the Improving Care and Access to Nurses Act.

Of the 235 signatories of the letter, almost all of them are nursing organizations, both national and state-based, with one notable exception: Americans for Prosperty, a Koch-brothers founded group that advocated for less government, free markets, and less taxation.

“This critical legislation will remove outdated barriers to practice that delay access to health care for our patients,” said AANP President April Kapu, DNP, in a statement. “Health care policies should be responsive to patient needs and inclusive of the health care providers delivering care in our communities. The ICAN Act will move health care delivery forward for patients, providers and our nation.”

Currently, more than 40% of Medicare beneficiaries receive care from NPs, and NPs are the fastest-growing Medicare provider group.