MADISON, Wis. – Thanks to bipartisan legislation authored by Sen. Patrick Testin (R-Stevens Point) and Rep. Tony Kurtz (R-Wonewoc), qualified registered nurses in Wisconsin can now operate at the highest scope of their practice, which will help improve healthcare access in all corners of the state, especially in rural and underserved communities.
Today’s bill signing marks the culmination of more than 10 years of attempts to get the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) Modernization Act across the finish line and enacted into state law.
“This day has been a long time coming,” Sen. Testin said. “It is hard to believe that nurses have been advocating for some form of the APRN Modernization Act for over a decade. It took a lot of hard work and compromise over the years, but we are pleased to say the day is finally here.”
According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, close to 40 percent of Wisconsin’s need for primary care providers is currently unmet. In 10 years, the state will likely require more than 740 additional primary care professionals to meet the growing demand for care. However, by 2035, Wisconsin’s supply of primary care physicians is expected to grow by just 4 percent.
“We are all deeply aware of the workforce challenges we face in our state when it comes to the healthcare industry,” Sen. Testin added. “APRNs will help close that gap and we are certain they will continue to step up and provide quality healthcare to everyone in Wisconsin.”
The new state statute authorizes APRNs to practice independently and without the need for a collaborative agreement with a physician – so long as the cases do not fall outside their areas of expertise.
“We want to take a moment and thank all the nursing groups who have continued to advocate for this bill and their profession for more than 10 years,” Rep. Kurtz said. “It’s because of their dedication to providing the best care for their patients that we’re here today. We’d also like to thank all the previous session authors from both sides of the aisle, their staff, Legislative Council and the Legislative Reference Bureau for their assistance over the years.”
Wisconsin now joins nearly 30 other states – including Minnesota and Iowa – that have passed policies similar to the APRN Modernization Act.
