The Nurse Practitioner Association New York State Applauds Governor for Legislation in Budget to Modernize Workers Comp Law 

NEW YORK (Jan. 16, 2019) – The Nurse Practitioner Association New York State (“NPA”) -- the only statewide professional association of nurse practitioners (“NPs”) in New York, nearly 20,000 of who practice throughout New York State – commends the Governor for his stalwart support of healthcare practitioners and consumers.  The NPA applauds Governor Cuomo for including legislation in his budget proposal that would modernize the workers’ compensation law (“WCL”) and clarify, among other things, that NPs may practice within the WC system at the top of their license.  NPs scope of practice authorizes these professionals to independently diagnose illness and physical conditions and perform therapeutic and corrective measures, order tests, devises, and immunizing agents, and refer patients to other health care providers and specialists.  Nurse practitioners possess full prescribing authority and are the primary care provider of choice for many New Yorkers.  Nevertheless, the outdated WCL prevents NPs from being authorized to directly deliver healthcare services to injured workers.  Far too often, injured workers who wish to see their NP, are statutorily barred from doing so.  NPA President, Michelle Appelbaum, PhD, NP, stated, “Expanding access to additional qualified healthcare providers will increase the availability of quality care, reduce costs to the system, and ensure injured workers return to work in a timely fashion.”  The NPA is eager to work the Governor and the Legislature to ensure the adoption of this Workers Compensation Law reform, and increase injured NY workers access to valuable healthcare services.

The Nurse Practitioner Association New York State 
Nurse Practitioners (NPs) are registered nurses who have completed advanced education, at a Master‘s or Doctorate level, plus additional clinical preparation.  These professionals are authorized to independently diagnose illness and physical conditions, perform therapeutic and corrective measures, order tests, prescribe medications, devices and immunizing agents, and refer patients to other health care providers.  The Nurse Practitioner Association New York State (The NPA), the only statewide professional association of nurse practitioners, promotes high standards of healthcare delivery through the empowerment of nurse practitioners and the profession throughout New York State.  For more information, visit: www.TheNPA.org.