AMA Scope of Practice Summit Highlights New Research on Independent NP Practice

At the 2026 AMA Scope of Practice Summit, physician and advocacy leaders highlighted new research examining whether granting nurse practitioners independent practice authority increases access to primary care services.

The study, published in Family Practice and led by family physician Dr. Rebekah Bernard, evaluated the practice settings of autonomous nurse practitioners in Florida. Florida law permits certain nurse practitioners to practice without physician supervision, provided they do so within primary care settings.

Researchers found that 59% of the autonomous nurse practitioners reached were practicing outside of primary care. Among those in non-primary care settings, the most common areas included cosmetic medicine, psychiatry and addiction medicine, emergency and urgent care, inpatient medicine, and cardiology.

The findings raise important questions about whether scope-of-practice expansions alone are sufficient to address physician shortages and improve access to primary care. The presentation also underscored the importance of physician-led, team-based care and broader policy solutions to strengthen the primary care workforce.

Read the full AMA article here: [https://www.ama-assn.org/practice-management/scope-practice/expanded-scope-where-do-nps-practice-it-s-not-primary-care]