Hear the report from KUAR s politics reporter Sarah Kellogg.
Sen. David Wallace, R-Leachville, (right) presents his bill to the Public Health, Welfare and Labor committee.
Credit Arkansas Senate
An Arkansas Senate committee voted to advance a series of bills Monday concerning medical practice in the state.
By a vote of 5-2 on each, the Senate Public Health, Welfare and Labor committee advanced two scope of practice, bills to the full Senate.
House Bill 1254, which the committee discussed first, allows for advanced practice registered nurses, or APRNs, to attend to Medicaid patients without the need of a referral. Under the legislation, the state’s Medicaid program would be able to recognize an APRN as a primary care provider.