The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recently published a proposed rule which would allow the VA to grant full practice authority for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), without regard to state practice acts.
The American Academy of Family Physicians sent a letter opposing these changes and has launched a SpeakOut campaign for members to submit comments to the VA opposing these measures.
The AAFP is asking members in states that do not have APRN independent practice to utilize the SpeakOut system to register their opposition to this proposed rule. The Ohio Academy of Family Physicians has submitted comments but requests that individual OAFP members submit them as well. The SpeakOut system is quick and easy to use—submit your comments today!
Comments are due to the VA by Monday, July 25.
As a family physician, I have been exposed to private practice, worked as an employed physician for a hospital, as well as working for the Air Force and the Veterans Administration. While I acknowledge that there are profound challenges to providing primary care access to all patients, I do not believe that it is appropriate to license NP’s to practice independently. In my eyes, this does nothing to lessen the shortage of eligible of care providers. What will resolve this problem, is appropriate compensation for the time and effort required to provide appropriate, cost effective, evidence-based, continuing, comprehensive, coordinated for all patients.