Letter Template for Senate Bill 517

Please use this template as a starting point for expressing your concerns for Senate Bill 517. The [bracketed, bolded text] below are areas within the template that we recommend personalizing your message based on your experience.

We encourage physicians to direct your letter to your district's Representative or Senate Member.

[Your Name]
[Professional or Personal Street Address]
[City, State Zip]

Dear [Senator X/Representative X],

I am writing to let you know of my strong opposition to Senate Bill 517 introduced by Senator Tom Davis, which would allow all APRNs the ability to provide medical care without any physician involvement. While all health care professionals play a critical role in providing care to patients and all APRNs are important members of the care team, their skillsets are not interchangeable with that of fully trained physicians. This is fundamentally evident based on the difference in education and training between the two distinct professions.

As a physician, I completed four years of medical school plus a [number of years]-year residency program, including 10,000-16,000 hours of clinical training. [Add additional examples of specialized training based on your area of specialty.]

By contrast, nurse practitioners (NPs), one type of APRN, complete only two to three years of education, have no residency requirement, and only 500-720 hours of clinical training. Certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs), another type of ARPN, have only two to three years of education, no residency requirement, and approximately 2,500 hours of clinical practice.

When practicing, it is important that health care teams work together with a physician in the lead. [Provide your personal example of how this works in your clinical setting.]  Studies show that non-physician care costs more, and that scope expansions do not expand access to care.

All patients, regardless of where they live or the type of insurance they use, deserve care led by a physician. If I can provide you with additional information, I am best reached via [phone / email] at [provide contact information].

Sincerely,
[Your Name and Medical Credentials]