How collaborative practice agreements impede the provision of vital behavioral health services.

TitleHow collaborative practice agreements impede the provision of vital behavioral health services.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2020
AuthorsMartin, B, Phoenix, BJ, Chapman, SA
JournalNurs Outlook
Volume68
Issue5
Pagination581-590
Date Published2020 Sep-Oct
ISSN1528-3968
KeywordsFemale, Humans, Male, Mental Health Services, Middle Aged, Nurse Practitioners, Organization and Administration, Physicians, Psychiatric Nursing, Substance-Related Disorders
Abstract

BACKGROUND: The critical shortage of behavioral health professionals impairs the ability of the U.S. health care system to respond to the growing demand for services to address mental illness and substance use disorders.

PURPOSE: To identify how restrictive state regulations act as barriers to full utilization of psychiatric mental health advanced practice registered nurses (PMH-APRN), whose scope of practice enables them to provide a full range of behavioral health services.

METHODS: A sequential mixed methods study combining interview data (n = 94) from a qualitative study of PMH-APRN practice with a subset of quantitative data (n = 699) from a national APRN survey examining the impact of state-mandated APRN/MD collaborative practice agreements.

DISCUSSION: Data sources converged to portray challenges to optimal use of APRNs providing psychiatric/mental health services, including high out-of-pocket fees, irregular communication with supervisors, mandated chart reviews, and supervisor turnover.

CONCLUSION: Inconsistent and burdensome supervision requirements contribute to cost inflation and may limit patient access.

DOI10.1016/j.outlook.2020.04.002
Alternate JournalNurs Outlook
PubMed ID32402393