VA proposes idea for faster access to health care for veterans

VA want to allow patients to be treated directly by nurse practitioners

SAN ANTONIO – A proposal by the Veterans Administration to allow nurse practitioners to practice in VA hospitals, if adopted, could shorten wait times for veterans at the VA by unshackling nurse practitioners from long-standing regulations.  

"They're not allowed to practice to the top of their education and clinical training. Their licensure will not allow that," said Dr. Cindy Cooke.

Cooke, who is the president of the American Association of Nurse Care Practitioners, said acceptance and widespread use of NPs has been on the rise. 

Across much of the nation NP's possess professional autonomy. They can write prescriptions, are issued DEA numbers, and are not required to have their work signed off on by an overseeing physician, 

"There are 21 states and the District of Columbia who do allow what we call full practice authority," Cooke said.

Cooke is one of about 5,000 nurse practitioners’ attending 2016's American Association of Nurse Care Practitioners annual conference at the convention center in San Antonio. A big focus for many of those here is the idea of getting nurse practitioners mainstreamed at the VA to cut down on wait times.

Another attendee, 28-year Navy veteran and Robert Amayo, said the proposed changes are good for providers and patients.

"It's somewhat limited but it’s a greater opportunity for us to impact more people. Some states are more restrictive,” said Amayo. “That's a political issue and always will be, but the fact that we can still do it is, I think, a blessing on our end. We have to fight for it."

Lakshi Aldredge from Portland, Oregon, said another obstacle has been the overall understanding of what nurse practitioners do.  

"Most of us have that broad background as a family nurse practitioner. So we can have that background that certification that allows us to care for the whole patient,” she said. “I think that might bring a unique edge versus seeing a physician who is certified in seeing internal medicine."

The VA's proposal requires a 60-day comment period which ends July 26 after which the VA can adopt the new rules.  

"In many states they're already doing this. And what that rule will do is to make it consistent throughout the country,” Cooke said.