New Survey Shows Kansans Strongly Support Legislation Granting Patients Choice and Access to Nurse Practitioners

As the Kansas Legislature considers a bill to improve health care access and help make it more affordable, a new statewide survey of Kansas voters shows broad bipartisan support to make it easier for patients to see Advance Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) for their health care services.

The poll, conducted by the Mellman Group February 16-21 and released recently by American Association of Nurse Practitioners® (AANP), found nearly three-fourths of Kansans back legislation that would enable patients to choose APRNs.

Support extends across key demographics for the state to end regulations requiring APRNs to hold a government-mandated contract with a physician to provide patient care and services. Those demographics include gender, age, party identification, and regions of the state. Further, most voters said they would be more likely to vote for a state lawmaker who agreed to remove these restrictions.

“House Bill 2279 is a no-cost, no-delay solution that immediately cuts red tape in our state’s health care system. We know 24 other states with this model in place are, frankly, more competitive. They have better access to care and more choices available for their patients,” said Christie Kriegshauser, director of government affairs for the Kansas Chamber. “We urge state lawmakers to stand with Kansas voters who have made their position clear. Kansas needs to compete at the same level to start seeing these benefits. The time is now to pass this important legislation and improve the delivery of high-quality health care across our state.”

The Kansas Senate last week passed the bill by a bipartisan vote of 30-7. It now moves to the Kansas House of Representatives for consideration.