Medicare Improvement for Patients and Providers Act of 2008--Motion to Proceed

Floor Speech

MEDICARE IMPROVEMENTS FOR PATIENTS AND PROVIDERS ACT--MOTION TO PROCEED -- (Senate - July 09, 2008)

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. COLLINS. Madam President, I rise in strong support of the outstanding work of our Nation's nurse practitioners--most especially the 850 or so nurse practitioners in Maine who have practiced independently since the mid-1990s. Nurse practitioners in Maine are credentialed as participating providers and serve as primary care providers in managed care organizations in my State.

Similar to my colleagues from New Mexico, Iowa and Alaska, a large percentage of Mainers live in rural areas. As such, residents are often a considerable distance from health care facilities and may be hindered from getting care because of transportation and other obstacles. Nurse practitioners fill the void for high quality primary health care in our underserved areas.

We need to encourage medical home demonstrations that allow nurse practitioners to fully participate in these models.

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