Bill to expand NPs’ autonomy fails in Calif. legislature

Seventeen states and the District of Columbia currently allow nurse practitioners (NP) to work autonomously, but a bill to add California to the list has failed in the Legislature amid intense lobbying against it by the California Medical Association (CMA) and other powerful physician groups, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Facing less opposition are other bills by Sen. Ed Hernandez (D-West Covina) that would allow other medical professionals, such as pharmacists, to do more to help fill gaps left by physician shortages and increased demand brought on by healthcare reform.