The Impact of Establishing a Full Scope of Practice for Nurse Practitioners in Michigan

“Policymakers and clinicians are concerned that future growth in demand for health care services will exceed current provider supply. One potential solution to meeting this demand is expanding the number and utilization of nurse practitioners (NPs). However, restrictive state scope-of-practice (SOP) regulations can affect NPs’ potential to deliver health care services. NPs in Michigan do not currently have a defined SOP. Rather, they function under the SOP of registered nurses, which limits their ability to practice and prescribe. Legislators in Michigan are considering defining an SOP for NPs.
The purpose of this report is to examine the existing literature regarding the relationship between state NP SOP regulations and various health care delivery outcomes (provider supply, access to care, utilization of care, costs of care, and quality of care). We use the effect estimates from the literature to estimate the impact in Michigan if the state were to allow full practice and prescription authority for NPs. We intend for this report to help legislators, professional associations, and other interested stakeholders (particularly those in Michigan) understand the potential effects of establishing full SOP.”

Grant R. Martsolf and Ryan Kandrack

Rand Corporation

2016

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