Access to APRN care made easier in 2019

In a round-up of legislative activity in 2019, the Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action reports progress at both the state and federal levels in improving public access to care by advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). One highlight at the federal level: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) final rule on the hospital outpatient prospective and ambulatory surgical center payment systems replaced direct physician supervision of APRNs with general supervision for hospital outpatient therapeutic services. Among the states, Arizona, Montana, Texas and Utah all took steps to modernize their APRN scope-of-practice laws. Most recently, CMS approved a federal waiver that will allow nurse practitioners (NPs) in Maryland to certify home health services for Medicare beneficiaries starting Jan. 1. Currently a physician must make this certification even when a patient is under the care of an NP. (Campaign for Action story, 12/18/19)