The ISMA has joined the AMA and other state and national medical organizations in asking leaders of the U.S. House committees on Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce not to pass a bill that would endanger patients by expanding the scope of practice for nonphysician practitioners (NPPs).

In the Nov. 2 letter, the AMA expresses strong opposition to H.R. 8812, the “Improving Care and Access to Nurses Act,” or the “I CAN Act.” 

“We are deeply concerned that this broad, sweeping bill endangers the care of Medicare and Medicaid patients by expanding the types of services NPPs can perform and removing physician involvement in patient care,” the letter begins. 

“This legislation would allow NPPs to perform tasks and services outside their education and training and could result in increased utilization of services, increased costs, and lower quality of care for our patients. Additionally, this bill will remove supervision requirements for (certified registered nurse anesthetists), a change that could have devastating quality outcomes for patients.”

The letter details other reasons that the bill would harm patients and explains why removing physician oversight of NPPs would not increase access to medical care in rural and underserved areas. 

“In reviewing the actual practice locations of primary care physicians compared to NPPs, it is clear that physicians and nonphysicians tend to practice in the same areas of the state,” the letter says. “This is true even in those states where, for example, (nurse practitioners) can practice without physician involvement. These findings are confirmed by multiple studies, including state workforce studies. The data is clear – scope expansions have not necessarily led to increased access to care in rural and underserved areas.”

Read the letter here >>