A Missouri Senate bill could expand what nurse practitioners are allowed to prescribe.
It’s sponsored by state Sen. Patty Lewis, D-Kansas City, who said she is the first registered nurse ever elected to the Missouri Senate.
Lewis told Missourinet that the state of Missouri has some of the most restrictive laws when it comes to nurse practitioners in the country.
“Seven of our eight border states have less restrictions,” said Lewis. “And what my bill does is a transition to practice. So, after a year or 1,000 hours of practicing with a collaborating physician, the nurse practitioner can practice on their own.”
Some physician groups oppose the bill over patient safety concerns.
Lewis responded to those concerns and told Missourinet that they don’t hold up.
“During COVID, many of these restrictions were lifted and there was no evidence or increase of patient harm during this,” said Lewis. “Since the emergency has gone away, the restrictions have gone back in place.”
Under current Missouri law, nurse practitioners must work under a collaborative agreement with a physician to prescribe certain medications. Sen. Lewis said the collaboration often “isn’t real” and costs nurses money.
“Some of them are paying up to $50,000 annually to comply by these laws,” said Lewis. “And nothing says you don’t have to not collaborate. If a certain health care system or a physician practice or an APRN wants to have a collaborating agreement, by all means, you can certainly do that if you like.”
Senate Bill 1016 has already cleared a public hearing and is now being reviewed by a Missouri Senate committee.
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