Federal officials last week backed legislation authored by State Rep. Theresa Conroy (D‑Seymour, Beacon Falls, Derby) to provide patients across Connecticut with access to quality, affordable health care. The bill, HB 6391, would remove the requirement that advanced practice registered nurses practice in collaboration with a licensed physician.
In a letter to Rep. Conroy, officials with the Federal Trade Commission cited reports by the Institute of Medicine that advanced practice nurses play a significant role in improving the delivery of health care.
“By eliminating the APRN collaboration requirement, the bill may improve access and consumer choice for primary care services, especially for rural and other underserved
populations, and may also encourage beneficial price competition that could help contain health care costs,” the letter states.
The letter is signed by three FTC officials, Andrew I. Gavil, Director of the Office of Policy Planning; Richard A. Feinstein, Director of the Bureau of Competition; and Howard Shelanski, Director of the Bureau of Economics.
The FTC endorsement is available online at http://ftc.gov/opa/2013/03/aprn.shtm.
Rep. Conroy is an advanced practice registered nurse and serves on the legislature’s Public Health Committee.