Legislation Would Benefit Patients, USA

Main Category: Medicare / Medicaid / SCHIP
Article Date: 12 Jun 2005 - 9:00 PDT

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The Medicaid Advanced Practice Nurses and Physician Assistants Access Act of 2005, introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives May 26, would require states to offer Medicaid reimbursement for primary health care services provided by advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) - nurses with advanced education and expertise in medical fields such as family medicine, pediatrics and women's health.

"Nurses are applauding this effort," said Elizabeth Stullenbarger, D.S.N., professor and associate dean of graduate studies at the UAB School of Nursing. "If the bill is enacted into law, it would encourage more nurses to pursue careers as APRNs, which would help address access to care in rural communities where there is a shortage of physicians."

University of Alabama at Birmingham
701 20th St. S., AB 1320
Birmingham, AL 35294-0113
United States
http://www.uab.edu/news

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