Florida’s attempt to expand primary care through nurse autonomy has largely failed to reach the underserved populations originally targeted by the state legislature. Recent investigations, including a study co-authored by FMA Treasurer, and long-term PPP supporter and leader, Rebekah Bernard, MD, indicate that many independent nurses are actually operating in specialized fields like aesthetic medicine without any physician oversight. This shift toward unsupervised practice in high-profit clinics creates significant safety concerns, as it deviates from the intention of the bill to improve medical access for Floridians.
In response to these findings, the Florida Board of Medicine is moving to reactivate the Council on APRN Autonomous Practice to restore professional accountability and clinical guardrails. This multi-board group will focus on reviewing practice standards to ensure that medical services are delivered within their intended legal scope under appropriate supervision. By strengthening these regulations, the Sunshine State aims to protect patient safety and reaffirm that physician-led care remains the safest model for managing complex medical needs and specialized procedures.
Learn how our research and outreach to the Florida Board of Medicine led to this progress toward patient safety.
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