Nurse Practitioners Are Rushing in to Fill the Gaps in US Health Care
Nurse practitioners (NPs) are rapidly expanding their role in U.S. health care as physician shortages persist. The NP workforce has surged from roughly 44,000 in 1999 to about 400,000 today, and more than half of the states now grant them full practice autonomy. This shift enables NPs to open independent clinics, prescribe medications, and fill primary‑care gaps, often at lower cost than physicians. However, many NPs are also moving into specialty and hospital settings, which may temper the expected gains in primary‑care capacity.
There’s a Silver Lining to Our Health Care Cost Crisis
Congress missed its Jan. 30 deadline to extend ACA subsidies, leaving roughly four million Americans without financial assistance and prompting a surge in uninsured individuals. The lapse underscores a broader health‑care cost crisis that has become a flashpoint ahead of the...