Have you ever had trouble getting a doctor’s appointment when you really needed one? Maybe you had to go to the ER instead? This has happened to many Pennsylvanians. A shortage of healthcare providers is creating long wait times and making it harder for people to get the care they need. This is why I support House Bill 739, which would give nurse practitioners (NPs) full practice authority in our state.

House Bill 739 would update “The Professional Nursing Law” from 1951. I think a lot has changed in the world and in healthcare since 1951! Today, nurse practitioners are highly trained professionals who can diagnose, treat, and manage many common illnesses. NPs have to earn advanced degrees, pass a national certification exam, and complete years of supervised clinical work.

Right now, in Pennsylvania, NPs are not allowed to practice on their own, even after all that training. They must have a written agreement with a physician to provide care. This rule limits the number of people the NP can reach, especially in communities that have too few doctors.

State Rep. Nancy Guenst introduced HB 739 in order to give NPs the ability to use their skills to care for patients. Over half of the United States (27 states) already have this right. Granting NPs full practice authority will bring better access to care, especially in areas of high need and rural areas; lower costs (many studies have shown that the high-quality care that NPs give helps save patients and the health care system money); and more choice, as patients will have more options about who they can see for their care.

Some groups like the Pennsylvania Medical Society have raised concerns about patient safety without physician oversight. Others worry that this can affect the teamwork between NPs and physicians. Some also say that NPs may have an issue since the state board of nursing is not responsible for giving NPs the right to prescribe controlled substances (the DEA does this). All of these concerns are unfounded and do not have any research to suggest that these are real issues. Nurse practitioners can practice to the full degree of their training without affecting collaborative relationships with doctors. The goal is not to be better than doctors, the goal is to get patients the care they need!

It is time for Pennsylvania to get caught up with the rest of the country. I urge readers to contact our local representatives, Congressman Dwight Evans and Congresswoman Madeleine Dean, and ask them to support House Bill 739. By doing this we can help everyone get more affordable health care when and where they need it.

Dana McBride

Master of Science Nursing candidate, University of Pennsylvania