Oklahoma’s most prominent physician organizations, the Oklahoma State Medical Association and Oklahoma Osteopathic Association united to call on Oklahoma State Legislators to support the Healthcare Expansion in Rural Oklahoma (HERO) ACT Amendments to SB 458.
If passed, the amendments would help increase access to healthcare providers in rural areas by allowing advance practice nurses to practice independently. Not only will the HERO Act increase the number of providers in Oklahoma, it will also help strengthen patient protections by requiring APRNs to gain education on pharmacology and have a minimum of 10 years under physician supervision.
“Oklahomans who live in rural areas are more likely to experience chronic illnesses, such as heart disease and diabetes, resulting in a shorter life expectancy. While we are proud of the incredible care our rural physicians provide, the fact remains that there is a dire shortage of qualified primary care providers in these areas,” said Jean Hausheer, M.D