As a [nurse/nurse practitioner/APRN], I ask you to vote yes for House Bill 1160. This bill
would recognize certified nurse practitioners (CNPs) to practice within their full scope, so that
Arkansans who live in Medically Underserved Areas (MUAs) can have access to the high quality
healthcare they need.
If passed, HB 1160 would authorize CNPs with a minimum of 2000 hours and at least two
years of collaborative practice with a physician, to retire the collaborative practice agreement,
which is currently required for prescriptive authority in Arkansas. The collaborative agreement
is a written document that must be filed with the parties‘ respective boards, and has 14 different
requirements. (Arkansas Center for Health Improvement, 2012).
Collaborative practice agreements have already been retired in nineteen states because they
do not make health care outcomes safer. A recently published study shows that when nurse
practitioners are able to practice to their full potential, patients have greater access to care
and their health outcomes improve (Oliver, et al., 2014). Mandated written agreements can
impose significant barriers to care, by adding to cost and creating delays. Arkansas law needs
to be updated to meet the needs of our population.
HB 1160 would help to ensure patient access to care, promote patient safety, and support costeffective healthcare delivery, all of which are major priorities in Arkansas. The safety of APRN
services has been well documented by over thirty years of research in peer-reviewed scientific
studies. These studies have shown consistently that the care provided by APRNs is equal to
the care of their physician counterparts. This large and ever growing body of evidence has led
the following groups to endorse recognizing APRNs to their full scope of practice:
Institute of Medicine
AARP
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
The Josiah Macey Foundation
The National Governor's Association
Federal Trade Commission
Given the well-recognized shortage of physicians, the need for high quality healthcare
providers is greatly needed in Arkansas. Removal of the collaborative practice agreement and
full scope practice for APRNs in Medically Underserved Areas will improve access to care,
prevent delays in healthcare delivery, decrease healthcare costs, and promote patient
safety.
Thank you for your time and consideration, and I look forward to your response. For additional
information, please contact me at (email/phone number).
Sincerely,
References
Arkansas Center for Health Improvement (2012, April 20). Arkansas Workforce Strategic Plan:
A Roadmap to Change, p. 24. Retrieved from:
http://www.achi.net/pages/OurWork/Project.aspx?ID=54
Oliver, G. et al., (2014). Impact of nurse practitioners on health outcomes of Medicare and
Medicaid patients. Nursing Outlook, 62 (6), pp. 440-447.