Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Modernization Act signed into state law

MADISON, Wis (CIVIC MEDIA) – The bipartisan legislation, authored by Senator Patrick Testin and Representative Tony Kurtz, means that qualified registered nurses in Wisconsin can now operate at the highest scope of their practice.

The act will help improve healthcare access in all corners of the state, especially in rural and underserved communities.

 The signing of the bill marks the culmination of more than 10 years of attempts to get the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) Modernization Act enacted into state law.

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, close to 40 percent of Wisconsin’s need for primary care providers is currently unmet. In 10 years, the state will likely require more than 740 additional primary care professionals to meet the growing demand for care. However, by 2035, Wisconsin’s supply of primary care physicians is expected to grow by just four percent.

The new state statute authorizes APRNs to practice independently and without the need for a collaborative agreement with a physician – so long as the cases do not fall outside their areas of expertise.

Wisconsin now joins nearly 30 other states – including Minnesota and Iowa – that have passed policies similar to the APRN Modernization Act.

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