Nursing Scope Of Practice Bill Held

A bill that would have allowed nurse practitioners to practice independently in California likely met oblivion in an Assembly committee last week.

SB 491 is being held in suspense by the Assembly Appropriations Committee after continued opposition from the California Medical Association, the powerful lobby that represents a large number of the state's doctors, as well as other physician-related groups. 

The CMA continued objecting to the bill even after its author, state Sen. Ed Hernandez, D-West Covina, agreed to an odd change in its text that would have only allowed nurses to practice independently in collaboration with medical groups or hospitals. But that change also lost key supporters of the bill, including the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.

A campaign funding analysis undertaken by Payers & Providers last month concluded that lawmakers on a key committee hearing the bill had far broader campaign finance support from SB 491's opponents rather than its backers.

The nurse practitioner bill was one of three Hernandez has introduced in the legislative session to address a chronic shortage of primary care physicians in California. 

One bill that would allow pharmacists to dispense vaccines and medicine to quit smoking is still wending its way through the legislative process. Hernandez withdrew another bill that would expand the scope of practice for optometrists after meeting considerable opposition from fellow lawmakers.

Studies indicate that only 16 of California's 58 counties have a sufficient number of physicians to properly meet patient needs.

“I hope we can work with legislators to find better ways to address the physician shortage in California,” said Stuart A. Bussey, M.D., a Walnut Creek-based physician who is also current president of the Union of American Physicians and Dentists, another SB 491 opponent.