CAP-PAC Press release with attached report from federal trade commission

Federal Trade commission Opinion Urges Legislature to Remove Restrictions on Nurse Practitioners.

In an invitation for comments on HB 4103 filed by Representative Daphne Campbell, The Federal Trade Commission Office of Policy Planning Bureau of Economics Bureau of Competition urged the legislature to "avoid maintaining provisions that would limit ARNP provision of health care services more strictly then patient protection requires." and to extend this recommendation to physician assistants as well.

HB 4103 would remove restrictions placed on ARNPs in 2006. The FTC opinion states

"the legislative history of the 2006 law suggests… that ARNPs and PAs generally had been providing safe care under the supervision standards in effect prior to the 2006 law’s enactment"

Furthermore, the FTC went on to say that "legislative history suggests that ARNPs in general are safe providers of healthcare services within their scope of practice and the available empirical evidence indicates that APRN-delivered care across settings is at least equivalent to that of physician-delivered care as regards safety and quality."

"We urge the legislature to agenda and hear this bill" said Susan Lynch ARNP and Vice Chair for Public Relations of the Florida Council of Advanced Practice Nurses PAC (CAP-PAC) "Florida citizens need improved access to health care." Lynch said.

Stan Whittaker, chair of CAP- PAC goes on to say "This bill is only a small step. What Florida really needs is for ARNPs to be able to practice autonomously at their full scope of education and training like nearly half the states in this country. Removing all barriers to their ability to practice will allow clinics to open and more patients in underserved areas to receive care."

Representative Daphne Campbell, sponsor of HB 4103 agrees. "ARNPs should be able to practice as they are educated and trained. HB 4103 is only a small step to what needs to happen for them to reach underserved populations in Florida."

Contact

Stan Whittaker MSN NP-C
CAP-PAC
Chair
850-545-8301
www.cap-pac.org
Susan Lynch MSN NP-C
CAP-PAC
Vice Chair for Public Relations
386-717-6180

SEE ATTACHED LETTER TO REP CAMPBELL FROM FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION