AB 890 removes an outdated supervisory requirement, allowing Nurse Practitioners (NPs) to help close California’s provider gap, reduce health disparities made more apparent by COVID-19, and support our state’s goal of
Even before the COVID-19 crisis, California’s provider shortage affected millions, and still especially affects:
NPs in states without physician supervisory requirements are more likely to work in rural communities.
Even before the pandemic, 7 million Californians, primarily Latinos, African Americans and Native Americans, suffered from a shortfall of health care providers.
NPs accept greater numbers of uninsured, Medi-Cal and Medicare patients.
The COVID crisis has underscored the need to address California’s systemic health care shortages.
and a third of the psychiatrists it needs. Without action, these shortages threaten California’s short-term COVID-relief plans and long-term health care goals regarding health care coverage for underserved populations and Medi-Cal expansion. Meeting California’s goals are only possible if we have policies needed to close the provider gap.
AB 890 allows NPs to be a part of the solution to close the state’s provider gap. Removing the outdated supervisory requirement will lead to:
Research shows NPs deliver comparable care to physicians with lower rates of hospitalization and ER visits.
Over 90% of NPs accept Medi-Cal and Medicare, and 86% see uninsured patients.
If full practice authority is achieved by 2020, California would see 50,000 fewer revisits to emergency departments – resulting on cost savings of $58 million annually.
Over 58% of NPs specialize in primary care.
There’s no reason not to let nurse practitioners do more while also trying to help increase the supply of primary care doctors – both are necessary… coverage is meaningless if there’s no one available to provide the care you need.
Los Angeles Times: Editorial: Nurse practitioners can improve Californians’ access to health care
There is an urgent need at the state and local level to address the shortages of behavioral health providers that we face in California. AB 890 represents a key strategy to help ensure that more Californians receive timely care for their behavioral health needs, notably psychiatric care.
Adrienne Shilton, Senior Policy Advocate, California Alliance of Child and Family Services
As our state continues to grapple with a significant healthcare workforce shortage, AB 890 fills a needed gap to increase access to care across the state. Given the deep disparities in mental health care access as experienced by communities of color and the LGBTQ community, it is imperative to create a greater opportunity for patients to seek desperately needed care.
Linda Tenerowicz, Policy Advocate, California Pan-Ethnic Health Network
California has a significant shortage of health service providers in underserved and rural areas, and many children and adults face significant challenges accessing quality services. We believe AB 890 will help bridge the access gap by allowing NPs to provide full healthcare services in areas where physician care is unfeasible.
Paul Smith, VP of Governmental Affairs, Rural County Representatives of California
Everyone deserves access to primary care and there just aren’t enough of those doctors in California. Let’s get everyone the care they need by making best use of our well-trained nurse practitioners and modernizing old supervisory requirements to allow those nurses to do what they do best - ensure access to care for all.
Carmela Coyle, President & CEO, California Hospital Association
Our members provide a variety of health care services to residents, insured and uninsured, all across California – in urban, suburban and rural areas. The provider shortage is affecting all of these areas, but rural regions are particularly impacted. AB 890 would be instrumental in reducing barriers to good health that Californians, particularly the most vulnerable, are facing every day.
Amber King, Vice President of Advocacy & Membership, Association of California Healthcare Districts
All nurses play a critical role in California’s health care delivery system and nurse practitioners, with their advanced education, national certification and training, provide comparable quality care to physicians. Under AB 890, nurse practitioners would be providing the same high-quality care they do today, all the while alleviating the state’s severe and increasing healthcare provider gap.
Dr. Marketa Houskova, DNP, MAIA, BA, RN, Executive Director, American Nurses Association\California