Advance practice nurses can write prescriptions and diagnose patients. (Lauren Chapman, IPBS News)
Noon Edition airs on Fridays at noon on WFIU.
The bill would allow advanced practice nurses to operate without a practice agreement with a physician, and maintain prescriptive authority.
The proposal is being presented as a way to address health care practitioner shortages in the state.
But some doctors have expressed concerns that this will lead to nurses assuming roles they weren't trained for.
APRNs are allowed to operate independently in 22 states right now.
Last week, lawmakers heard testimony on the subject. The proposal will likely be brought up during the next legislative session.
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Our Guests
Angela Thompson, family nurse practitioner
Dr. Richard Feldman, former Indiana health commissioner
Deena Dodd, director of government relations and business development at the Indiana Rural Health Association
Seema Mohapatra, IUPUI Robert H. McKinney School of Law professor, specializing in healthcare law