Historically, these current billing practices have driven up the cost of care, decreased access, and created delays in care. This system fosters unproductive use of the healthcare workforce in ways that continue to limit the ability of nurse practitioners to access their patients, especially in underserved and rural areas.
To further complicate the reimbursement of nurse practitioners, the clinical role of NP’s is directed largely by state scope-of-practice laws that determine the services that can be billed independently and those that NP’s can provide with physician oversight. Currently, 18 states permit NP’s to treat, diagnose and prescribe medications for patients without physician supervision or collaboration, while seven states require
To further complicate the reimbursement of nurse practitioners, the clinical role of NP’s is directed largely by state scope-of-practice laws that determine the services that can be billed independently and those that NP’s can provide with physician oversight. Currently, 18 states permit NP’s to treat, diagnose and prescribe medications for patients without physician supervision or collaboration, while seven states require