Florida Chamber Applauds Lawmakers for Passing Legislation Increasing Access to Healthcare Providers
Expanding Scope of Practice Particularly Helpful in Rural and Underserved Communities
TALLAHASSEE, FL (March 11, 2020) – The Florida Chamber of Commerce applauds the Florida Legislature for today passing a bill that will provide Floridians greater access to healthcare, particularly in rural and underserved communities. With the passage of HB 607 by Representative Cary Pigman, registered nurse practitioners and physician assistants will be able to practice medicine to the fullest extent of their formalized education and training.
The Florida Chamber’s Healthcare Partnership has a seven-year long history of supporting expanded scope of practice for Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners (ARNPs) to allow them to practice medicine to the full extent of their education and training.
“With 900 new residents moving to Florida each day, and 4.5 million more residents expected to call Florida home by 2030, it’s vital that Floridians have increased access to safe, quality healthcare,” said David Hart, Executive Vice President, Florida Chamber of Commerce.
With the passage of HB 607, Florida is poised to put in place what 30 other states have already done – allow nurse practitioners who have completed formalized training, achieved a masters degree or higher, completed two years of supervised training and 3,000 clinical practice hours, to be able to practice.
The Florida Chamber thanks Representative Pigman (one of only two practicing physicians in the Florida House of Representatives), Speaker of the House Jose Oliva and Senator Ben Albritton for their leadership on this important issue.
###
The Florida Chamber of Commerce is the voice of business and the state’s largest federation of employers, chambers of commerce and associations aggressively representing small and large businesses from every industry and every region. The Florida Chamber works within all branches of government to affect those changes set forth in the annual Florida Business Agenda, and which are seen as critical to secure Florida’s future. The Florida Chamber works closely with its Florida Political Operations and the Florida Chamber Foundation. Visit www.FloridaChamber.com for more information.