Continuing the somewhat disorganized trend that is occurring throughout the country, New Jersey is now continuing the trend of expanding the scope of practice for limited license practitioners through proposed legislation to expand the scope of practice of psychologists. As we pointed out in numerous prior blogs, this is a trend that is occurring nationwide for a number of different categories of non-physician providers. What is clear is that on an inconsistent basis, individuals will be receiving health care, in various states consistent with the legislation of those states, which will permit limited licensed practitioners to provide certain types of health care. This will enable the pool of health care providers to be expanded to meet the need created by the Affordable Care Act, as well as permit the third party payors, including the government, to reduce payments for such services being provided, that can now be provided by alternative limited licensed individuals. As previously pointed out in prior blogs, we will see how this plays out both in the reimbursement area as well as in the malpractice arena.