Scope of Practice
Action Alert
A physician-led, team-based approach to health care is foundational to quality patient outcomes in Kentucky. When medical professionals work together, under the guidance of a physician, they can more effectively deliver safe, high-quality care. Unfortunately, “healthcare workforce shortages” and “access to care” concerns are used as justification to expand non-physician scope of practice laws. With 94% of Kentucky’s 120 counties facing a primary care shortage, we must advance thoughtful policies that grow the physician workforce while freeing up existing physicians to focus more on patient care. 

With more than a decade of education and training, physicians are highly qualified to oversee, direct and ensure safe medical procedures, surgeries, and overall care. Kentuckians are most comfortable with a highly trained physician overseeing their health care. A recent (Dec. 2022) statewide survey conducted for the KMA by an independent polling organization found that Kentucky patients overwhelmingly trust and want physician-led, team-based care.

Furthermore, recent studies show that care delivered under the guidance and oversight of a highly trained physician led to fewer emergency room visits, fewer hospital admissions and readmissions, shorter hospital stays, and overall lower healthcare costs.

KMA supports physician-led team-based care and will undertake efforts to address scope of practice issues and legislation presented by non-physician healthcare providers that would lower quality, increase costs, and hinder access to health services.

Additional information and results from KMA’s statewide polling on this issue are available here.

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