By Chris Conover (Research Scholar) , Robert Richards (PhD Student)
Received in revised form: May 27, 2015; Accepted: May 27, 2015;
Published Online: June 16, 2015
Publication stage: In Press Accepted Manuscript
Highlights
- •We conduct an economic impact analysis of regulation of advanced-practice nurses.
- •We conduct our analysis using data and projections for North Carolina.
- •Less restrictive regulation of advanced nurses will increase economic output, employment.
- •The state and its counties will see higher tax revenues from lower regulation.
- •Our results are for one state, but our method and findings apply to other states.
Background
With looming provider shortages and increased demand for health care, many states are looking for low-cost ways to alleviate the shortages.
Purpose
To assess the economic impact of less restrictive regulations for APRNs in North Carolina.
Method
We use economic impact analysis to demonstrate the economic impacts of making state scope-of-practice regulations on APRNs less restrictive in North Carolina. Outcomes include economic output, value added, payroll compensation, employment, and tax revenue for North Carolina and for various subregions.
Discussion
If North Carolina adopted the same approach to APRN regulation as the least restrictive states, its economy will benefit from substantial increases in economic output and employment. The state will also see increases in tax revenue.
Conclusions
In addition to substantially shrinking the size of projected physician shortages, allowing full scope-of-practice for APRNs will bring significant economic benefits to the state of North Carolina. Our analysis should be helpful to policy makers considering ways to deal with provider shortages.
SOURCE: http://www.nursingoutlook.org/article/S0029-6554%2815%2900180-3/abstract
