OP-ED: “Live Healthy” is short-sighted
The proposed $900 million “Live Healthy” healthcare package approved by the Florida Senate Health Policy Committee fails to address the crucial role that advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) in Florida play in expanding healthcare access. These highly qualified providers, educated at the master’s or doctoral level, offer primary, acute, chronic, and specialty care to patients of all ages. Nurse practitioners, a subset of APRNs,
have a proven history of improving access to healthcare while delivering cost-effective, high-quality, patient-centered care with documented positive outcomes. Across the US, millions of Americans choose nurse practitioners as their primary care providers.
As skilled clinicians, APRNs integrate clinical expertise in diagnosing and treating health conditions, focusing on disease prevention and health management. Given the expanding population, the pressing issue in Florida is an evident and critical shortage of primary care providers. The exclusion of nurse practitioners from the “Live Healthy” package raises the question: Why are these highly educated professionals overlooked in this legislation?
Deborah Tedesco, DNP, APRN, ANP-BC, AP-PMN, CBCN, CWS, CWCN-AP, CPHQ, FAANP (she/her/hers)
President, Florida Nurse Practitioners-YOUR Statewide NP Network
Immediate Past President & Program Chair, Central Florida Advanced Nursing Practice Council
Nurse Practitioner/ Lead APP, Advent Health Medical Group, Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
Adjunct Instructor, University of Central Florida College of Nursing, DNP Program
