ARNP Scope Of Practice: A Case Study

The significant state-to-state variation of ARNP scope of practice creates some formidable barriers to the continuing advancement the profession, especially in the realm of autonomy. The impact of these variations include impeding acceptance of advance practice nurses as primary practitioners, both with organized medicine, as well as with insurance payers. In fact, even in states that grant ARNPs full autonomy, some payers impose more restrictive requirements and require APRNs to bill for their services under a physician’s name, or reimburse at a lower rate (Hain & Fleck, 2014). The disparity from state to state also has federal agencies, like the Federal Trade Commission, investigating their role in the regulation of the nursing profession