Missouri Should Consider Changing Physician Supervision Requirements for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses [MO]
Posted almost 9 years ago by Nicholas M Perrino
"'If APRNs and other health care professionals are permitted to practice to the extent of their education, training, and abilities, the state could benefit from enhanced competition, including potentially lower costs and greater patient access to care. If the current restrictions are already greater than patient protection requires, we urge the legislature to adopt a bill that removes, rather than increases, oversight requirements that could further limit the provision of health care services by APRNs and, perhaps, other members of health care delivery teams.'
The staff comment refers to an FTC staff policy paper, issued in March 2014, which analyzes the competitive implications of various types of APRN regulations, including the mandatory collaborative practice arrangements now required under Missouri law. According to the policy paper, these types of rigid statutory requirements can increase health care costs and prices, needlessly constrain innovation in health care delivery, and exacerbate well-documented provider shortages. The policy paper also cites research suggesting that these types of mandates do not appear necessary to promote coordination among health care providers or to assure that care is safe and effective."