The nation is facing a shortage of primary care doctors, and to fill that gap many states are proposing to expand the role of nurse practitioners to allow them to prescribe medication, practice without a doctor’s supervision, and even be called doctors if they have a doctorate.
Dr. Mario Motta is president of the Massachusetts Medical Society and is also a practicing cardiologist. He believes that nurse practitioners don’t have the qualifications to be independent primary care practitioners. But some disagree. Linda Upmeyer, a nurse practitioner and the minority whip in the Iowa state House of Representatives believes in expanding roles for nurse practitioners. We’ll also hear from Micah Weinberg, senior research fellow at the New America Foundation, on why there is such a shortage of primary care doctors in the first place.
The World is an independent newsroom. We’re not funded by billionaires; instead, we rely on readers and listeners like you. As a listener, you’re a crucial part of our team and our global community. Your support is vital to running our nonprofit newsroom, and we can’t do this work without you. Will you support The World with a gift today? Donations made between now and Dec. 31 will be matched 1:1. Thanks for investing in our work!