2025 Legislative Session:
We are excited to announce the introduction of SB569 for the 2025 Legislative session. SB569, is filed and should be heard in the Oklahoma Senate Health Committee soon. As you know, our NP practice legislation passed the House and Senate last year, but was vetoed by Governor Stitt. The AONP team has spent this interim working with legislators and the Governor to remove any obstacles for passage this year.
AONP members receive email updates regarding the status of this legislation. Join AONP and if already member, ensure your membership is active so you don't miss out on any call to action emails and important updates.
Mark your calendars to attend the 2025 Day at the Capitol event, March 11, 2025. You may also choose to attend the Legislative Workshop the morning of the 11th, to learn more about SB569, as well as tips on advocacy and the legislative process.
Note: AONP members receive updates and important email notifications with the latest on our legislative efforts and events planned for the session. Join AONP and support this important work at npofoklahoma.com and stay informed! JOIN US! We are STRONGER TOGETHER!
Oklahoma faces a health care crisis. Our state ranks 49th in physician-to-patient ratio, a fact that wouldn't surprise anyone who has waited two weeks for a doctor's appointment or who drives an hour or more for primary care. In 2023, Oklahoma's average ratio of people to primary care physicians was 1,650:1
Oklahomans deserve better access to affordable heath care. The Oklahoma legislature can join 27 other states, who have made this simple, common-sense change and increased health care access for their citizens. Oklahoma needs to remove these barriers and allow NPs and APRNs to utilize their full education and skills to care for Oklahomans.
Every state surrounding Oklahoma (aside from Texas), has removed practice barriers - which means Oklahoma loses health care providers to these bordering states. With better practice environments, Oklahoma APRNs are enticed to leave to these neighboring states where they can fully utilize their education and skills.
In Oklahoma, outdated regulations require nurse practitioners and other APRNs to have a letter from a physician on file, even though little or no collaboration occurs. Many NPs and other APRNs pay thousands of dollars a month just to have this letter on file, and that's money that could be used to hire staff or expand services.
Nurse practitioners, as well as other APRNs, have a master's degree or doctorate and can provide physical examinations, diagnose and treat acute and chronic problems, interpret laboratory results, prescribe and manage medications and more.
27 other states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs have already done away with these antiquated requirements. It's time Oklahoma did as well! Oklahomans deserve better access to quality health care.
