Patients should have full and direct access to the health provider of their choice, according to Cindy Cooke, DNP, FNP-C, FAANP, president-elect of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. Dr. Cooke recently presented to a packed audience of faculty, students and members of the community at the Vanderbilt University School Nursing (VUSN). Cooke, who practices at an Army health clinic in Huntsville, Alabama, was invited to speak by the VUSN Military/Veterans Student Group.
“The role of nurse practitioner started 50 years ago to provide primary care as more people sought care under the then new Medicare and Medicaid programs,” said Cooke. “The same thing is happening today with health care reform as nurse practitioners are providing high quality, cost effective care and it’s one reason that nurse practitioner is a rapidly growing job opportunity in the country.”
Cooke, speaking for the AANP, believes that a patient has a right to see the type of provider they choose. However, patient choice is often hampered because nurse practitioners do not have full practice authority to include prescription writing privileges in all 50 states. In fact, just 20 states and the District of Columbia allow nurse practitioners to have full practice authority. The AANP is rallying its base of more than 58,000 members to contact legislators on a state-by-state basis, including in Tennessee, for change. Cooke sees these practice limitations as barriers to accessible care, especially in rural areas where there are often limited health care providers.
On the federal level, the AANP’s top agenda item for the next 18 months is focused on Medicare and the SGR (Sustainable Growth Rate) fix. Specifically, the group is promoting the authority for advanced practice nurses to be able to order home health care for patients covered by Medicare and be able to order appropriate durable medical equipment .
Cooke urged audience members to get involved in advocacy and leadership by engaging in research and innovations to develop and testi new models of care, being a mentor for other nurse practitioners and spreading the word about the effectiveness of nurse practitioners in the health care delivery system.
“Keep your minds open for new and inventive things to improve outcomes for your patients,” said Cooke.