Legislation to Improve Access to Health Care Heard at State Capitol Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Posted by: Emily Eastin

Share | Legislation to allow Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) to practice to the full extent of their training and expertise was heard in the House Public Health Committee at the State Capitol today. This hearing marks the first time full-practice legislation has been heard in a Texas legislative committee.



APRNs are highly-skilled health care professionals who have Masters or Doctorate level training. They provide primary care, mental health, women’s health, disease management as well as other services. Unfortunately, in Texas, APRNs face outdated and unnecessary regulations that prevent them from practicing to the full extent of their license and ultimately restrict health care delivery options.



“Texas lags behind many other states when it comes to allowing APRNs to provide much needed health care,” said Jeff Watson, President of Texas Nurses Association. “Medically underserved areas and regions with low-income populations – of which, Texas has many – are most negatively impacted by the requirement that APRNs enter into a contract with a physician in order to practice their trade.”



Texas has a critical shortage of primary care providers, with 432 Primary Care Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) in urban, suburban, and rural areas across the state. APRNs are quality, cost-effective providers who can help address this shortage.



“A broad range of providers and stakeholders testified to the positive impact that removing regulatory barriers on APRNs can have on providing safe, effective patient care and public health in Texas,” said Jan Zdanuk, President of Texas Nurse Practitioners.



Twenty-two states, the District of Columbia, the Department of Defense, and the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs allow APRN full practice.



The APRN Alliance is comprised of the Consortium of Texas Certified Nurse-Midwives, Texas Association of Nurse Anesthetists, Texas Clinical Nurse Specialists, Texas Nurse Practitioners, and Texas Nurses Association.