Dear friends of IP4PI,
Please read this important alert from the NJ Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons and TAKE ACTION!
CLICK HERE TO READ ALERT ONLINE
Independent Practice for APN’s “Consumer Access to Healthcare” **Call your Legislators now! – Request that they Oppose S-1961/A854 if posted for a vote**
New Jersey’s Current APN Scope of Practice
In New Jersey APNs are currently required to work in “collaboration” with a licensed physician. Collaboration is the ongoing process by which an APN and a physician engage in practice, consistent with agreed upon parameters. APNs must have a written joint protocol with their collaborating physician in order to prescribe medications and devices. An APNs ability to write prescriptions was a “legislative privilege” and therefore some protections, including the joint protocol with a physician, were put in place. Joint protocols can be as expansive or narrow as the parties agree; and typically is very personal to the experience of the APN and their working relationship with the collaborating physician. There are also NJDHSS regulations addressing the time period required for the collaborating physician’s review of a patient’s’ chart and records when seen by an APN. All of these safeguards will go away under this legislative proposal.
Other State’s APN Practice Requirements
According to the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, only 22 states allow APNs to practice completely independent of any physician involvement. These states tend to be more rural states (Alaska, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Wyoming, Arizona, New Mexico, Iowa, Hawaii, and Colorado) with the only Northeastern states being Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine and Rhode Island. None of New Jersey’s neighboring states or states similarly situated geographically or demographically permit the independent practice of APNs. For more information, please access the following resources:
- White paper prepared by the Coalition
- Document of Bill
- If you do not know your legislators, go to: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/legsearch.asp
