N.Y. NPs seeking independence from physicians

Nurse practitioners (NP) in New York can diagnose conditions and prescribe medications as long as they have a written agreement with a collaborating physician. However, a bill in the New York State Legislature attached to Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s budget proposal would eliminate the need for a written practice agreement with a physician once an NP has about three years of full-time experience.

At issue is not just the autonomy of the state's nearly 16,000 NPs, but also whether removing the written agreement rule would make it easier to fill the growing shortage of primary care providers, as health reforms and increasing numbers of people with insurance coverage are fueling the demand for providers. Although many patients have become accustomed to seeing nurse practitioners (NP), who increasingly play a greater role in primary care, physician groups argue that removing the written practice requirement would erode patient safety.