R Street Institute

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Medical Licensing Reform Can Provide Better Access To Primary Care

by Courtney Joslin
Dec 11, 2019
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Key Points

The projected primary care shortage in the U.S. threatens the ability of Americans to receive the health care they need on a regular basis. Virtually every state is facing an alarming impending shortage of primary care doctors, and reform measures must be taken.
As it stands, medical licensing for advanced health care professionals like nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and pharmacists overly restricts their ability to contribute to primary care services that they are able to perform. Licensing reform in the states would help these practitioners better contribute to the primary care field.
Scope-of-practice reform, or reform that expands the duties that these medical professionals can perform, would benefit patients and the primary care workforce.

…Allowing physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and pharmacists to work to the fullest extent of their expertise is a win-win for primary care providers and patients. These professionals already work with physicians in the primary care space and, with sensible scope-of-practice reform, can better contribute to the primary care workload.

Press release: How Scope-Of-Practice Laws Can Empower The Medical Community & Patients

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