Monday’s New York Times editorial page highlights the issue of expanding the scope of practice of limited licensed practitioners and cites a study from the British health care system.  The article favorably reports the use of nurse midwives rather than doctors in noncomplicated deliveries.  The editorial indicates that the use of physicians in noncomplicated cases adds to the cost.  As pointed out in my many prior blogs, there is a constant drumbeat for the expansion of the scope of practice of limited licensed practitioners, to provide more and more of the health care, that will be demanded by the population going forward.  In light of the media attention given to the Affordable Care Act, the public will have an expectation that they will have access to health care services, but they may be surprised that it is not provided by a physician but by a limited license practitioner.

On a separate note, the New Jersey Senate Health Committee has approved legislation expanding the scope of practice of physician assistants.  The legislation still needs approval by both the full Senate and Assembly.