Expanded Access to Nurse Care in Medicare and Medicaid Programs
New legislation makes it easier for advanced practice nurses, including nurse practitioners, anesthetists, and midwives, to provide medical services. This means patients covered by Medicare and Medicaid will have easier access to rehabilitation, home care, long-term care facilities, and other benefits, potentially reducing wait times and improving care quality.
Key points
Nurse practitioners can now order and document more services, such as cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation, and specialized footwear for diabetics, simplifying the process of obtaining benefits.
Access to hospice care and home infusion therapy is increased, as nurses can now act as primary caregivers and bill for a wider range of services.
Streamlined care in skilled nursing facilities and hospitals, where nurses can be primary caregivers for patients, improving treatment processes and reducing bureaucracy.
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists can now be reimbursed for pre-anesthesia evaluation and management services, and order/refer other services, expanding their scope of practice.
Certified Nurse-Midwives have greater access to training and can order more home health services and medical equipment, improving access to maternity care.
Introduced
Citizen Poll