[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 1 (Tuesday, January 7, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E26]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         INTRODUCING NURSE PRACTITIONERS MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT

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                          HON. BILL RICHARDSON

                             of new mexico

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, January 7, 1997

  Mr. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to introduce legislation to 
provide Medicaid coverage for all certified nurse practitioners and 
clinical nurse specialists for services they are legally authorized to 
perform.
  Nurse practitioners provide vital primary care services to the 
underserved populations in our country. It is time we take full 
advantage of the quality, cost-effective primary care provided by nurse 
practitioners.
  The legislation I am introducing would enable all nurse 
practitioners, regardless of specialty, to provide care to Medicaid 
recipients. Currently, patients are able to access the care of certain 
nurse practitioners such as family and pediatric nurse practitioners, 
but others such as adult and women's health nurse practitioners are not 
accessible.
  Over 400 studies have confirmed that the health care provided by 
nurse practitioners in a variety of urban and rural primary care 
settings is of the highest quality. Nurse practitioners are 
particularly capable to provide health care to the indigent. Their 
educational programs emphasize the provision of care to patients who 
have limited financial resources. In a national survey conducted by the 
American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, over 60 percent of the 
patients seen by these providers had family incomes of less than 
$16,000 per year. Nurse practitioners rate as high in financial 
efficiency as they do in consumer satisfaction. Their ability to focus 
on preventative and curative medical services contribute to the quality 
as well as the cost-effectiveness of the care they provide.
  It is well known that a majority of our underserved populations are 
located in rural and inner city settings across the Nation. While nurse 
practitioners are willing and able to provide services in these 
settings, not all nurse practitioners are currently being reimbursed by 
Medicaid for their services in these areas.
  Nurse practitioners can play a central role in achieving our national 
goal of providing quality, cost-efficient health care for all citizens. 
I am hopeful this legislation will help to eliminate disparities in 
access to care for rural and inner city Medicaid populations by 
providing direct reimbursement to nurse practitioners and clinical 
nurse specialists who have proven their ability to deliver quality care 
in a cost effective manner.

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