The Oklahoman Encourages Yen to Hear Measure Increasing Health Care Access

On Saturday, the state’s largest newspaper encouraged Sen. Ervin Yen to hear HB 1013, which would improve access to health care for all Oklahomans by removing needless financial barriers and outdated regulations that limit nurse practitioners in our state. Editorial writers at The Oklahoman cited the measure’s broad support in the House of Representatives and its merit in tackling a real problem that affects many Oklahomans.

The Oklahoman wrote:

The Oklahoma Association of Nurse Practitioners is worried about the future of a bill that would help its members. House Bill 1013 seeks to give full practice authority to nurse practitioners and advance practice registered nurses. Presently, those nurses must have a collaborative agreement with a physician to provide health services. The agreements are costly, but nursing officials say they provide little real benefit to patients. The House voted 72-20 in favor of HB 1013, but the practitioners’ group says it may not be given a hearing in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. Our hope is that even if he opposes the bill, committee chairman Sen. Ervin Yen, R-Oklahoma City, will allow it to be heard prior to the April 13 deadline. This is a substantive issue that merits consideration by his committee and potentially by the full Senate.

Currently, nurse practitioners have full practice authority in 22 states, the District of Columbia and in veterans and military facilities across the country.

To read the editorial on The Oklahoman’s website, click here and scroll down.