Reply by Senator Jay Costa to My Statement on Nurse Practitioner Independent Prescribing, and my Response
Dear Dr. Behar:
Thank you for contacting me
to relate your opposition to Senate Bill 25, legislation that would
amend Pennsylvania law to change the scope of practice for certified
registered nurse practitioners in our state. I
appreciate your interest in this matter and I understand that you are
concerned about this bill.
As you are likely aware,
Senate Bill 25 has passed the Senate Committee on Consumer Protection
and Professional Licensure and was considered by the Senate for the
first time on March 29, 2017. I signed on as a co-sponsor
on this bill because I believe it is time for Pennsylvania to join the
twenty-one states and the District of Columbia in allowing CRNPs to have
full authority to practice. This change to our law will help us to
reduce health care costs, to ensure that our
law is in step with modern medical practice and to assist in ensuring
quality care to the nearly 35 per cent of Pennsylvanians who have
inadequate primary care access. I recognize that there is a significant
difference in training between physicians and CRNPs.
This bill does not make light of that difference and requires that
CRNPs meet a three-year, 3,600-hour collaboration requirement before
practicing more independently. I will consider your thoughts on this
legislation and your reservations about it as it moves
through the legislative process.
I could not disagree more
strongly with your assertion that this legislation is motivated by
racism. Pennsylvania has underserved populations of all races that could
benefit from the broader practice authority of
nurse practitioners, in rural and urban areas, and increasingly in
suburban areas as well. Patients throughout the Commonwealth will
benefit from cost savings created by this legislation, and I believe it
is important that we pursue this course of action.
Again, thank you for taking
the time to contact me about this legislation. Please feel free to
contact me if I can assist you in any way.
Sincerely yours,
Senator Jay Costa, Jr.
43rd District
JC/jlg
*********************************
Jay.
I demand you add an amendment. "All Pennsylvania legislators, all their
staffs, and all their first degree family members are prohibited from
seeing doctors for medical care." Save some money. Experience the
inferior care of black patients on Medicaid that you will be forcing on
them.
I also request that you reveal all campaign contributions by insurance companies. It is they who are driving this movement.
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