Scope of Practice for Nurse Practitioners Discussed in the Senate

As mentioned in the Future of Nursing report, “Leading Change, Advancing Health,” the topic of scope of practice limitations for nurse is one being widely discussed at all levels of care. In fact, Senators Susan Collins and Kent Conrad have recently introduced S 227, The Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act of 2011, which would recognize and authorize nurse practitioners as eligible health care professionals who can order home health services under Medicare. Currently, nurse practitioners are unable to authorize orders for home health care services even though they are authorized Medicare providers.

Click here to read more about the bill.

Click here to learn about the Future of Nursing report.