Physicians for Patient Protection is calling on South Carolina lawmakers to understand how unsupervised practice by nonphysician practitioners affects patient safety, cost, and healthcare quality. Policymakers should rely on current data to guide decisions that directly impact South Carolina patients.
Our president, Carmen Kavali, MD, sent a detailed letter to State Senator Tom Davis along with other key lawmakers as they consider legislation to allow independent practice by NPPs. These include South Carolina State Senate Medical Affairs Committee members: Brad Hutto, Shane R. Martin, Thomas C. Alexander, Thomas D. “Tom” Corbin, Margie Bright Matthews, Michael W. Gambrell, Richard J. Cash, Billy Garrett, Ronnie A. Sabb, Deon T. Tedder, Josh Kimbrell, Tom Fernandez, Matthew W. “Matt” Leber, Jeff Zell, and Harvey S. Peeler.
The letter shares important comments about making policy based on evidence and provides fresh information, including these points:
- Make policy based on recent information that shows the declines in nurse practitioner education and training.
- Unsupervised NPs do not improve outcomes or reduce cost.
- Competition and free market healthcare requires informed consumer choice, not regulatory substitution.
- When patients are confused about who is providing their care, they cannot choose care smartly.
- Unchecked scope of practice expansions for non-physician practitioners distorts fair trade in medical education.
Read the letters we sent:
Re: FTC Letter on S.45 / H.3580 and S.669 (Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Scope of Practice)
Re: BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Letter Supporting Scope of Practice Expansion
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