County Judges, Local Leaders Ask Legislature to Remove Barriers to Healthcare

In a compelling video and call to action to the Texas legislature, county judges and local leaders talk about the lack of healthcare access in their communities and the need to remove barriers to advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) to expand access to their constituents.

“It’s frustrating to know that we have a group of trained medical professionals who are not able to follow what they’ve been trained for and educated for and have the experience for without having the ‘supervision” of a doctor,” said Brazos County Judge Duane Peters. “To me it really doesn’t make much sense, and it raises the price of healthcare.”

“We know that lowering the cost to the government, lowering the cost to the individual patient, increasing quality and increasing availability, will all come about if we increase the supply of primary care,” said former George Flint, former District Judge for Collin County and former Chair of the Collin County Republicans. “And that includes the nurse practitioners.”

“Nurse practitioners are so well educated and qualified to serve in a role,” said Washington County Judge John Durrenberger. “I don’t’ think we’re generating enough doctors. “We can use the nurse practitioners and have perfectly good healthcare.”

“We’re in a shortage. Why are we having a restriction to an entire Texas population who is already serving but wants to serve more because of a contract that’s outdated?” said Live Oak City Council Member Erin Pérez. “We already know that 27 other states have removed this barrier. We know that the Veterans Administration, the miliary, our activity have removed this barrier.”

“I don’t know of any bad experience that any state that has changed those laws has had where nurse practitioners were the problem,” said Judge Duane Peters.

“So why should nurse practitioners have to be under someone else’s license to be able to see patients if that’s my choice?” added Judge John Durrenberger.

This session, Rep. Drew Darby, Sen. Mayes Middleton, and a strong group of bipartisan lawmakers have filed HB 3794/SB 1859 to cut the red tape for APRNs and increase access to care for Texans. Both bills are awaiting action in the Texas House Public Health and Senate Business and Commerce Committees.