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| Posted: Feb.07.2011 @ 2:57 pm |
A recent article reported that, states could possibly reduce the cost of healthcare by a drastic amount just by enabling graduates of nurse practitioner programs to write prescriptions meant for controlled drugs. At this time, laws demand that a doctor of medicine must prescribe drugs containing the capability to create addictions or abuse. Although a healthcare professional with a nurse practitioner program online is able to officially prescribe basic care, prescribe antibiotics, treat broken bones, or send patients to physical therapy, the nurse practitioner has the ability to do little to treat severe pain.
For over 17 years, nurse practitioners have battled with very little success for the power to prescribe controlled substances. However, 2011 may be different. Medical costs are growing, plus there are fewer family doctors. Also, both consumers and insurance providers are interested in reducing the expenses of healthcare. Proponents for nurses feel they have an resolution to many of these problems.
No more than two states in the entire country prohibit nurse practitioners from prescribing controlled drugs Alabama & Florida. While cooperation with medical doctors is necessary in other states, Florida dictates that dr's oversee them, thus limiting the scope of their healthcare practices.
The Florida Medical Association agrees that the medical system is in trouble; though, dr's differ with the planned solution and identify the plan as 'dangerous'. Not only do md's worry about being held accountable for nurse practitioners whom they are supervising, however critics say that some dr's see the projected action as struggle to their own healthcare practices. nurse practitioner schools state having difficulty establishing their own clients as a result of the difficulty, they have finding md's eager to oversee them.
However, merely 5% of the dr's in the state of Florida accept Medicaid, and there is a grave need for md's in rural places. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida believes it might save up to $6 million if nurses were allowed to work with no direct oversight of dr's. Florida Tax Watch, also, agrees with the legislation.
The American Academy of Physicians, at the same time as stating their aspirations to work along with nurses to improve medical care within the state, disagrees with enabling them to work independently. This year, however, the National Institute of Medicine praised the contribution of nurse practitioners and strngly encouraged states to permit them to practice independently. As trouble relating to medical care continue to create a hot discussion, this issue is not likely to go away. Meanwhile, the nurse practitioner program is expected to continue to be a promising degree in universities throughout the country.
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