Post by Logan on Feb 5, 2016 5:33:16 GMT -6
Senate panel backs bills to boost medical care in underserved areas
The Senate Education and Health Committee on Thursday advanced several bills that attempt to address the problem of providing primary medical care to underserved and rural residents.
Senate Bill 369, sponsored by Sen. William M. Stanley Jr., R-Franklin, would establish a pilot program under the Virginia Department of Health to study the feasibility of authorizing a nurse practitioner to practice without direct supervision of a physician in clinics in medically underserved or high unemployment areas. Such practitioners would have access to patient care teams through telemedicine.
The committee passed Stanley’s bill but re-referred it to the Senate Finance Committee, which must approve it before it can move to the full Senate.
Sponsored by Sen. Rosalyn R. Dance, D-Petersburg, Senate Bill 264 would allow a nurse practitioner to provide care for up to 120 days in the event that the physician overseeing the patient care team dies, retires, becomes disabled or no longer has a license.
Read more: www.richmond.com/news/virginia/government-politics/article_624e418e-e4ea-566f-9511-e053785821e5.html
The Senate Education and Health Committee on Thursday advanced several bills that attempt to address the problem of providing primary medical care to underserved and rural residents.
Senate Bill 369, sponsored by Sen. William M. Stanley Jr., R-Franklin, would establish a pilot program under the Virginia Department of Health to study the feasibility of authorizing a nurse practitioner to practice without direct supervision of a physician in clinics in medically underserved or high unemployment areas. Such practitioners would have access to patient care teams through telemedicine.
The committee passed Stanley’s bill but re-referred it to the Senate Finance Committee, which must approve it before it can move to the full Senate.
Sponsored by Sen. Rosalyn R. Dance, D-Petersburg, Senate Bill 264 would allow a nurse practitioner to provide care for up to 120 days in the event that the physician overseeing the patient care team dies, retires, becomes disabled or no longer has a license.
Read more: www.richmond.com/news/virginia/government-politics/article_624e418e-e4ea-566f-9511-e053785821e5.html