Restrictions on the scope of practice for nurse practitioners (NPs) in Michigan hinder their ability to provide care to the full extent of their certification and education. Nurse practitioners are advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) who hold master's or doctoral degrees and have the skills to assess, diagnose, prescribe, and manage treatment in various settings. However, Michigan law mandates nurse practitioners to contract with a supervising physician to provide care to patients (MCNP, 2023). This creates unnecessary barriers to health care access, especially in rural and urban areas where there is a shortage of primary care providers (HRSA, 2016; MDHHS, 2020). Evidence shows that NPs with full practice authority (FPA) can increase access to safe, high-quality, cost-effective care and improve patient outcomes (AANP, 2021). FPA is the legal permission for NPs to practice to the full extent of their education, training, and certification without physician supervision. Twenty-seven states, the District of Columbia, and two U.S. territories have already recognized FPA for NPs, while Michigan's current restrictive legislation continues to limit NPs' ability to practice in the communities where they are needed most. Senator Jeff Irwin introduced Senate Bill 279, a bipartisan bill that authorizes FPA for NPs in Michigan, in March 2023. The Health Policy Committee is reviewing it, and it must pass the House to become law if approved. SB 279, if enacted, will address several critical issues in healthcare statewide that affect patient outcomes. This policy analysis project examines SB 279 using CDC's policy analytical framework as a methodological approach and addresses the following questions: How does SB 279 align with the strengths, weaknesses, and gaps of the current NPs' scope of practice? What are the factors that enable or impede the enactment of FPA legislation in Michigan? How can best practices and evidence-based research inform the implementation of FPA for NPs?
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