NCMS Opposes Proposals on House Bill 681 That Continue to Promote NP Pathways to Independent Practice
The situation over House Bill 681 continues to evolve. The NCMS lobbying team learned on Tuesday that a third Proposed Committee Substitute (PCS) would be introduced at the Wednesday meeting of the Senate Health Care Committee. Each version continues to put patient safety at risk and demonstrates the the proponents of this effort are more concerned with financial gain than they are about quality healthcare in North Carolina. Each version has also sought to progressively limit and even remove physician involvement from patient care.
At their core, these changes:
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Sever the critical role of physicians from the healthcare process, undermining the very foundation of medical care.
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Devastate access to essential healthcare for North Carolinians residing in rural and underserved areas, leaving these communities vulnerable and neglected.
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Jeopardize the safety of every citizen in North Carolina, creating a perilous healthcare landscape fraught with risk and uncertainty.
The changes promote pathways for Nurse Practitioners to practice independently. The second version removed the increased requirements for supervision and further restricted anesthesia care by anesthesiologists and AAs, while allowing CRNAs to work independently. These are topics that have been debated for years.
The NCMS has been able to acquire bipartisan opposition to this effort, as demonstrated over the past two weeks, when Democrats and Republicans came together in the best interest of North Carolinians.
NCMS Members Dr. William Ferrell and Dr. Bryant Murphy worked with the NCMS team yesterday, speaking with individual members of the Senate Healthcare Committee. Our allies in the Senate continue to give us valuable guidance to refine our strategy for opposing these proposals.
NCMS VP of Advocacy John Thompson says “The NCMS maintains the stance that opposing changes to legislation which jeopardizes patient safety is crucial for upholding the integrity of a healthcare delivery system. The NCMS firmly advocates prioritizing the welfare and safety of patients above all considerations, thereby ensuring that any legislative adjustments maintain stringent standards of care and safeguard individuals from potential harm.”
YOU CAN HELP!
Plan now to attend the North Carolina Medical Society White Coat Advocacy Day June 12
The North Carolina Medical Society continues to monitor and work on House Bill 681. Look for a Political Pulse on May 31 with more in-depth analysis of what is happening in Raleigh.
The proposed bill to give autonomy to registered nurses to perform “medical acts”, without the collobration with ,a licensed Doctor of Medicine, or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, is dangerous.
Nursing practice, is not equivalent to the Medical Practice of Physicians, MD’s, or DO’s. Nurses are not qualified to Perform medical acts by completing an online master’s level Nurse Practioner program, where, they are not trained for these advanced actions without the teaching of a Physician, MD/DO.
To allow nurses to advance to the level of performing independent medical procedures and acts, is dangerous, unprofessional, and, should not be allowed in the state of North Carolina.
Physician Assistants are not qualified to replace physicians, and, they are trained and educated “by physicians, in the manner of physicians”.
I have been a licensed Physician Assistant for over 48 years. I have seen tens of thousands of patients, while under the supervision of an MD or DO. I am comfortable with a degree of autonomy, if I have access to an MD or DO for consultation, if needed. The key to keeping the patient safe, is realizing that even though I’ve been a PA for almost 50 years, I recognize that I am a member of the Health Care Team, LEAD by Physicians. Nurses, need the same level of supervision, in order to ensure that the patient continues to receive the best level of Medical Care, ultimately directed by a Physician. Nursing Care, is not, equivalent to Medicine!