Sixteen other states already allow independent practice for NPs. Sen. Bob Dixon (R) and Rep. Ray Weter (R) are sponsoring the legislation. Hearings are scheduled for both the House bill and Senate bill next week.
Some physicians oppose the idea of independent practice, saying it breaks apart team-based care. One nurse practitioner cited in the report said that while collaboration between providers is “always a good idea,” making it mandatory and “structuring it to make it awkward is not,” according to the report.
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