Doc shortage has states reconsidering NP restrictions

Many states may reconsider laws restricting nurse practitioners’ ability to treat patients as the U.S. faces a growing shortage of primary care physicians.

“If all States were to allow [nurse practitioners] to practice to the full extent of their graduate education … the number of U.S. residents living in a county with a primary care shortage would decline from 44 million to fewer than 13 million – a 70 percent reduction,” stated a United Health Group (UHG) report published in early September.

Thirteen percent of U.S. residents live in counties that have primary care doctor shortages, which UHG defines as less than one primary care physician per 2,000

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