Proposals in the House and Senate would weaken well-established Indiana laws on the scope of medical practice, writes Pardeep Kumar.
From infant mortality to smoking rates to diabetes, Hoosiers’ below average rankings on a wide range of public health measures have long been a concern for Indiana physicians and policymakers alike. There are many reasons these measures remain stubbornly low, but one factor is a shortage of doctors, especially in Indiana’s rural areas. In this year’s legislature, multiple proposals seek to address this health care workforce issue.
The difficulty of finding health care in many parts of Indiana is real. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services classifies 30 of Indiana’s 92 counties as “physician shortage areas,” defined as fewer than one doctor for every 3,500 people. Another 21 counties plus the city of Gary are rated as shortage areas based on the number of low-income residents or the number of people with high health needs.
Preserving the collaborative relationship now in state law brings benefits for non-physician providers, and, by extension, for patients. Collaboration gives non-physicians access to partner physicians’ expertise in diagnosing and treating complex cases, offering the opportunity for continuous improvement. Nursing groups have contended these consultations are too infrequent to deliver value. If this is the case, the better solution is to expand collaborations, not abandon them.
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