A practical workforce solution for Rural Access to care
The Problem
Access Gaps Are Growing
More than 80 Tennessee counties face provider shortages. Patients experience long wait times, travel barriers, and limited access to primary care.
The Solution
Modernize Scope of Practice
Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs), which include Nurse Practitioners, Nurse Midwives, Clinical Nurse Specialists, and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists, as well as Physician Assistants (PAs), are educated, licensed, and practicing across Tennessee, especially in rural communities.
Modernizing scope of practice laws allows these providers to deliver care consistent with their training, expanding access without creating new workforce pipelines.
Evidence
What the Data Shows
More than half of U.S. states have modernized scope of practice laws with strong results:
• Improved access
• Strong rural recruitment and retention
• High patient satisfaction
• No reduction in safety or quality
Alignment
Aligned With Tennessee’s Rural Health Transformation Goals
Workforce modernization directly supports Tennessee’s $200 million Rural Health Transformation Program by maximizing existing provider capacity.
Coalition Support
A Resource for Policy Makers
Access to Care for Tennessee supports evidence-based workforce modernization and stands ready to serve as a resource to policymakers.
Workforce modernization directly supports Tennessee’s $200 million Rural Health Transformation Program by maximizing existing provider capacity.