We recently posted about New York adopting Full Practice Authority for Nurse Practitioners. Since New York adopted the legislation, Kansas and Delaware also adopted Full Practice Authority for nurse practitioners (NPs).
Kansas
On April 15, 2022, Kansas removed practice restrictions on nurse practitioners to allow them to practice independent of any regulatory mandated contractual relationship with a physician. The legislation also requires an APRN to maintain malpractice insurance and national certification for initial licensure as an APRN. APRNs will also be required to comply with federal Drug Enforcement Administration requirements related to controlled substances to prescribe controlled substances.
“Kansas, like so many other states, is experiencing a health care shortage – especially in rural parts of the state,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “This will improve the availability of high-quality health care by empowering APRNs to reduce local and regional care gaps.”
“This bill will increase access to care for all Kansans, many of whom rely on safe and expert APRN care today,” Amy Siple, APRN, president of Kansas Advanced Practice Nurses Association, said. We applaud Governor Kelly and the Kansas legislature for taking this step towards greater access, quality outcomes, and reduced regulatory barriers. As the 26th state to remove these barriers for APRNs, Kansas demonstrates a commitment to improving the health of its citizens.”
“This law is a necessary step toward eliminating health care disparities, managing costs and building the health care workforce for Kansas,” said Jon Fanning, chief executive officer of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. “States that have adopted Full Practice Authority are better positioned to address these critical issues. Today, patients in most states have full and direct access to NPs and these benefits. We call on the remaining states to follow suit and modernize their licensure laws to ensure patients have full and direct access to high-quality, nurse practitioner-delivered care.”
Delaware
Toward the end of last year, Delaware Governor John Carney also signed into law legislation allowing NPs full practice authority. Under the Delaware law, NPs and APRNs can “practice to the full extent of their education and training by removing a requirement to have an oversight contract with a physician.” While the requirement for an oversight contract with a physician is no longer a state requirement, individual employers and health care organizations may still require it.
Delaware also joined with APRN interstate licensing compact, which allows APRNs multistate licensure in other states that have passed the legislation.
While the goal of these laws is not to have NPs leave health systems or their current practices, it is instead to allow states to support its residents in finding primary care, in physician-led practices and new nurse practitioner practices.
“The legislation shows that our state recognizes that nurse practitioners can do just as well without being directly supervised by a physician,” says University of Delaware School of Nursing professor Susan Conaty-Buck, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, FAANP. “Much of Delaware has a primary care shortage, and nurse practitioners have the training and ability to fill those gaps.”
“This is an historical event for Delaware nursing history and APRN licensure,” said Pamela C. Zickafoose, EdD, MSN, RN, executive director of the Delaware Board of Nursing. “APRNs will be able to provide healthcare services that our citizens need. New practices will open to bridge current gaps and improve access to primary care providers. APRN compact licensure will allow increased cross-border practice, facilitating nurse mobility and telehealth.”