'Turf war' pits Tennessee doctors against nurse practitioners

A divisive "turf war" between doctors and nurse practitioners has broken out across Tennessee, and a state task force convened to find common ground has, thus far, only illuminated the depth of the schism.

The dispute centers on exactly what types of treatment can be provided by advanced practice registered nurses (APRN), and under what level of oversight. Tennessee is among the dozen states with the most restrictive scope of practice laws — and the reform debate is a recurring flashpoint in legislative sessions. The nurses contend they are equipped to administer many of the same primary care and preventative treatments as doctors. Further, they point to a growing primary care physician shortage across the region.

Doctors, meanwhile, question whether nurse practitioners can offer the same level of care and have opposed efforts to expand the scope of treatment, preferring legislation to reinforce physician roles in primary care.

The task force created by Sen. Becky Massey, R-Knoxville, and Rep. Jeremy Faison, R-Cosby, was designed to give doctors and APRNs — nurse anesthetists, nurse practitioners, nurse midwives and clinical nurse specialists — a forum outside of legislative session to find consensus on how to reform the rules governing treatment. The resulting recommendations could result in legislation that impacts how Tennesseans receive primary care — a key step toward improving the state's dismal health.

Read more: http://www.tennessean.com/story/money/industries/health-care/2016/09/14/turf-war-pits-tennessee-doctors-against-nurse-practitioners/89780404/