Posted on March 29, 2011

While 2010 version had GOP sponsor, this year's House version was not scheduled for committee

In the latest round of their effort to have the Legislature allow them to write prescriptions, nurse practitioners and their allies unveiled the support of three officials with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on Monday.

The three FTC officials -- Susan DeSanti from the Office of Policy Planning, Joseph Farrell from the Bureau of Economics and Richard Feinstein from the Bureau of Competition -- signed off on a letter to Rep. Daphne Campbell, D-Miami Shores, supporting HB 4103, her bill to change the law to allow advanced registered nurse practitioners (ARNPs) to prescribe medicines.

Florida is one of two states that do not allow ARNPs, of which there are more than 13,000 in the Sunshine State, to prescribe controlled medicines. ARNPs are required to hold a master's degree and education on drug prescriptions.

“Restrictions on the supervisory relationships between physicians and ARNPs impose costs on Florida health-care consumers,” noted the three FTC commissioners in the letter. “HB 4103 would reduce those costs. Absent evidence that the special restrictions imposed in 2006 are required to address demonstrable patient harms, FTC staff urge that HB 4103 be enacted to remove those restrictions. If particular medical procedures demonstrably require heightened supervision requirements, then staff recommends that the Legislature tailor supervision requirements to address those particular services.”

Leaders from the Florida Council of Advanced Practice Nurses PAC (CAP-PAC) welcomed the support of the FTC officials and urged the Legislature to pass HB 4103.

“This bill is only a small step,” said Stan Whittaker, chairman of CAP-PAC. “What Florida really needs is for ARNPs to be able to practice autonomously at their full scope of education and training like nearly half the states in this country. Removing all barriers to their ability to practice will allow clinics to open and more patients in underserved areas to receive care.”

“We urge the Legislature to agenda and hear this bill,” said Susan Lynch, a vice-chairwoman of CAP-PAC. “Florida citizens need improved access to health care.”

The bill appears to have little hope of passing in 2011. While a similar measure was introduced in 2010 by Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, and then Rep. Juan Carlos Zapata, a Republican out of Miami, the bill stalled. This year, despite overwhelming Republican control of both chambers of the Legislature, the measure is backed by a pair of Democrats -- Campbell in the House and newly elected Sen. Oscar Braynon of Miami Gardens in the Senate.

While Braynon’s version was referred to the Health Regulation Committee, Campbell’s measure in the House has not been assigned to any committee and appears stalled.

"This bill hasn't been scheduled for a hearing because it's a bad bill,” said Tim Stapleton, executive vice president of the Florida Medical Association (FMA) on Monday. “Access to care is only going to improve if we make Florida a friendlier place to practice medicine through significant medical liability reforms. The fact is, we need more doctors in Florida. It is not in the best interest of Floridians to have lesser-trained individuals practicing medicine.”

Reach Kevin Derby at  or at (85) 727-0859.

* Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners