Can nurse practitioners do more?

Some physician groups have argued that nurse practitioner programs could put patients at risk, by increasing the likelihood that patients will see providers who lack the training necessary to identify some types of problems.

In 2009, only about half of private managed care plans were letting nurse practitioners work as in-network primary care providers, Cassidy says.

Allowing more use of nurse practitioners could save money, even if plans paid the practitioners as much as they pay doctors, because researchers have found that the nurse practitioners tend to order fewer tests, Cassidy says.

New health services access programs funded by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (PPACA) may help expand the role of nurse practitioners, because many programs are using nurse-led clinics to provide care in underserved areas or provide commonly needed services in locations such as retail stores, Cassidy says.

PPACA also provides $30 million in nurse practitioner training funding, Cassidy says.

See also:

• Doctor shortage spreading in U.S. presaged in Las Vegas
• What If We Run Out of LTC Workers?
• Boomers’ Aging Casts Light on Geriatrics Shortage