Policy changes needed to support NP-owned primary practices, study finds

Collaboration between federal and state policymakers, payers, financial institutions and health systems is necessary to overcome structural barriers limiting growth of nurse practitioner-owned primary care practices, a study found. Published in Nursing Outlook, the qualitative analysis consisted of a focus group of 14 nurse practitioner primary care practice owners seeking to address unmet community needs. They said reduced reimbursement compared with physician-owned practices, supervision costs, credentialing delays and limited access to capital threatened their practices, despite increasing demand for primary care services. The barriers they faced went beyond scope-of-practice limitations and entailed administrative, contracting and reimbursement mechanisms that affected long-term sustainability. Among recommendations, the authors suggest health systems partner with nurse practitioner practice owners to leverage their community connections to expand access in underserved areas.  (Nursing Outlook article, 7/28/26)