Hi there! This is Caitlyn, AKA @mrs.unitedstates on Tik Tok. Women and birthing people in the United States are at a higher risk of dying during labor than women in nearly every other developed country. Part of the reason for this is because there are people who cannot access obstetrical care, often because they live in areas where care is scarce. Many of these people will have to travel upwards of 3 hours just to get to a hospital! In these efforts, many women and babies die or experience preventable complications. Nurse Midwives and other types of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN's) are qualified and capable of filling this gap but are barred from doing so in some states as a result of the wide-spread marginalization of midwives in the early 20th century. Bottom line, full scope authority for APRN's to practice to the full extent of their training and skillset will literally save lives and give birthing people and women more choices that can have a vital impact on the outcome of their births. Your support only takes minutes!

   It is common sense: by removing barriers, lawmakers make it easier and more affordable for patients to receive care.

·     Better access to health care means better outcomes for patients. Patient health outcomes should be the yardstick for licensure rules. Multiple research studies have proven that there is no evidence that a collaborative agreement mandate has any positive impact on patient health outcomes.

·     Updating the Nurse Practice Act ends a very costly and prohibitive mandate for APRNs to pay a doctor to review charts and prescriptions several weeks after the patient is cared for.

·     Some may say this legislation is radical. What’s radical is how the state is resisting modernizing health care delivery by APRN practice to the benefit of all Tennesseans.

·     APRNs are the Future of Primary Care as 72.6% of APRNs deliver primary care nationally.

·     By 2026, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the APRNs' role will grow by 36% compared to 13% for physicians. This statistic alone indicates how Tennessee is behind the curve when it comes to health care delivery.

·     When APRNs are able to practice to the full extent of their education, they are able to serve more Tennesseans and provide more options for health care services.

Dear Representative/Senator,

My name is ________________. I am a (insert the type of nursing you practice). Please vote yes on SB176/HB184 as amended by Sen. Lundberg and Rep. Ramsey.

To improve access to care during the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Lee waived restrictions so Tennesseans could have more access and options to health care, including access to APRNs. We need to continue to allow APRNs to practice without the burden of collaborative agreements. This legislation will cut outdated, unnecessary requirements hindering APRNs from providing care to Tennessee patients.

Less red tape means more access and more options for millions of Tennesseans living in primary care shortage areas. Please help cut red tape and allow APRNs to provide the same high-quality advanced nursing care they provide today to more patients at less cost, resulting in more access and options for Tennesseans.

Over 31 states, DC and the Veteran's Administration system have removed barriers to APRN care, reducing costs and providing access to care for patients. None of them have looked back. Removing unnecessary regulations on APRNs is a no-cost solution to improving access to care.

Will you vote yes on SB176/HB184?

Sincerely,

(Your Name and degrees)

(Your Contact Information)

What this Legislation SB176/HB184 as amended accomplishes: Removes the need for a collaborative practice agreement with a physician. Establishes the Board of Nursing as the only licensing body overseeing APRN practice. The APRN license meets the need for a fitness to prescribe. Allows APRNs to manage their practice without extra red tape and costs.

What is a collaborative agreement? Antiquated and burdensome contract between a physician and an APRN that allows the APRN to prescribe medication. It is a costly restriction mandating that the physician review patient charts of the APRN; the cost for this collaborative agreement is on average $1500/month per a recent survey conducted in Tennessee. The physician might never see the patient, yet the patient is usually billed for this mandate. There are no health or safety benefits to a patient when their chart is looked at 30 days after receiving treatment.

Why is health care more expensive in Tennessee?  Our laws and regulations result in higher costs for patients and taxpayers because added administrative and billing costs are passed along. Only physicians benefit from the current set up and costs of collaborative agreements. If Tennessee wants to continue to be attractive for economic and community development, it must provide world-class, affordable health care services that are readily available for all Tennesseans. Removing the barriers of practice for APRNs is one of the many cost-effective ways that Tennessee can move its health care system into the 21st century and ensure that Tennesseans are receiving the care they need.

Shouldn’t Tennesseans be able to choose who provides and cares for their families without the hidden surprise of a caregiver they have never seen billing for their services? Unfortunately, Tennessee law currently suppresses that choice by reducing the available supply of providers and restricting the range and services they can offer, thus increasing health care costs. Competition in health care markets benefits Tennesseans by helping to control costs, improve quality of care, promote innovative products, services and service delivery models, and expand access to health care services and goods.