The demand for primary care services in the United States is expanding as a result of the growth

and aging of the U.S. population and the passage of the 2010 ACA, and this trend is expected to
continue over the next several years. NPs may be able to mitigate projected shortages of primary
care services. Existing research suggests that NPs can perform a subset of primary care services as
well as or better than physicians. Expanded utilization of NPs has the potential to increase access to
health care, particularly in historically underserved areas.
National Governors Association Study: The Role of Nurse Practitioners in Meeting Increasing Demand for Primary Care. December
2012.
The areas that ARNPs and nurse anesthetists are able to provide those services, studies show
they provide the same quality of care, so we would receive lower cost but no harm in quality.
Robert Weissert, TaxWatch's Vice President of Research
The growth in demand at a faster rate than changes in supply has many states looking for more
efficient ways to address provider shortages. And other healthcare groups are stepping forward
with a solution that, in Florida, is highly controversial. And that is essentially expanding [functions
and responsabilities]... to allow more people access to care and a cheaper cost."
Healthcare Law, Access Issues At Center of Scope-of-Practice Fights. WFSU-FM [Tallahassee] March, 2013.
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) are currently the sole anesthesia
providers at the following locations:

Rural hospitals
Ambulatory surgery centers
Physicians offices
Military hospitals and navy ships

CRNAs can deliver safe anesthesia care, lessening the burden on an already overburdened health care
system, while still putting patient safety first. CRNAs are one part of a larger overall solution.

For more information, visit www.FANA.org.