Florida TaxWatch finds millions in healthcare savings

Press Release: Florida has the potential to save millions in healthcare costs annually while maintaining high-quality healthcare delivery by removing administrative and legislative barriers for Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners (ARNPs) and Physicians Assistants (PAs), a new Florida TaxWatch study finds.

Senator Mike Bennett (R-Manatee), a champion for ARNP prescribing in the Florida Senate, said of the report, “Florida TaxWatch says that ARNP prescribing will save Floridians approximately $339 million a year. I don’t think the Legislature can ignore savings like that. The doctors and the nurses need to come to agreement on this important issue and focus on the best and most cost-effective way to treat patients.”

“Florida ARNPs and PAs are capable of taking on a significant amount of primary care functions for Floridians, without needing to work directly under a physician,” said Dominic M. Calabro, Florida TaxWatch President and CEO. “Across the country, medical clinics in which ARNPs provide the majority of care have reported substantial cost savings in healthcare delivery.”

The two main recommendations in the TaxWatch report are allowing ARNPs and PAs to prescribe controlled substances either collaboratively with a physician or independently, and bill Medicaid and insurance providers directly, allowing for a lower overall reimbursement rate for primary care services.

“Florida has the opportunity to significantly reduce healthcare costs for taxpayers,” Calabro said. “This report reveals that up to $46 million in savings for Medicaid and state-sponsored health insurance could be realized through these changes. We can no longer afford to under-utilize these medical professionals, who are fully capable of providing quality primary care services to Floridians at a lower cost than physicians must charge.”

Brian Keeley, CEO, Baptist Health South Florida, commented on the report, “Miami-Dade County and the state as a whole suffer a severe shortage of access to primary care physicians, especially for Medicaid patients. The time has come for intelligent and fundamental change in the primary care delivery model.”

TaxWatch’s report validates Brian Keeley’s long-time advocacy for ARNP prescribing. “ARNPs as physician extenders are cost effective, efficient and provide safe, quality health care, particularly in underserved areas. We live in a world where patients routinely seeking primary care comes in the emergency room. ER treatment averages four to ten times the cost of primary, non-emergent care. The state of Florida should join the other 48 states that currently allow ARNP prescribing whichTaxWatch’s report demonstrates will save money and efficiencies through the entire health care system.”