Bartolotta’s legislation to improve rural counties’ healthcare access approved by Senate Committee.

Legislation sponsored by Sen. Camera Bartolotta (R-46) to increase access to health care was approved by the Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee. Senate Bill 25, as amended, would allow qualified Advanced Practice Registered Nurses-Certified Nurse Practitioners (APRN-CNPs) to practice primary health care independently in rural counties after fulfilling a three-year, 3,600-hour collaboration agreement with a physician. Currently, nurse practitioners must always practice under a collaboration agreement.

In rural counties, accessing healthcare can be difficult due to the distance people have to travel and the lack of public transportation. This bill aims to address these challenges by allowing nurse practitioners to provide care without the constant supervision of a physician. By using the Center for Rural PA’s definition of rural areas, the bill aims to improve access to healthcare for over 3.4 million Pennsylvanians living in rural communities.

Nurse practitioners are more likely than physicians to practice in rural areas, and by granting them full practice authority, the number of patients they can see per week could increase significantly. The bill has now advanced to the full Senate for further consideration.

For more information, contact Katrina Hanna at 717-787-1463.