Questions remain about who nurse practitioners are and what services they provide.

The provincial government last month announced new regulations that grant nurse practitioners more independence and the ability to open private practices. It’s hope that greater use of nurse practitioners, who have a much broader scope of practice, will help improve access to health care.

Kari Brown is a member of the board of directors with the Newfoundland and Labrador Nurse Practitioners Association. She told VOCM Morning Show Co-Host Gerri Lynn Mackey that while the new regulations allow nurse practitioners to operate independently, there remains “one big obstacle.”

Brown says if they open an independent clinic, they cannot bill MCP and they won’t have any other payment plans—meaning they can only open private clinics.