The second decade of Arkansas NP History: A Decade of Expansion and Advocacy for Arkansas CNPs

During the second decade of Certified Nurse Practitioner (CNP) licensure in Arkansas, the number of CNPs residing in the state more than doubled—from approximately 700 in 2005 to 1,660 in June 2015. The total number of licensed CNPs also increased, from about 900 to 1,926 during this period.

 

Arkansas Nurse Practitioner Association Established 

In 2014, the Arkansas Nurse Practitioner Association (ANPA )was established to unite, support, educate, and enhance the professional identity of Nurse Practitioners in Arkansas, while promoting and advocating for excellence in practice. The first ANPA conference was held in August 2015.

Although the Arkansas Nurses Association (ARNA) led most legislative initiatives during this decade, several ANPA leaders were actively involved in these efforts.

Key Legislation Influencing CNP Practice (2011–2015)

• Act 302 of 2011: Created the Arkansas Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) and included APRN access.

• Act 604 of 2013: Updated professional titles to align with the national APRN Consensus Model developed by the NCSBN and expanded the Arkansas State Board of Nursing (ASBN) Prescriptive Authority Advisory Committee to include four APRNs, one physician, and one pharmacist.

• Act 529 of 2015: Restored APRN prescriptive authority for hydrocodone combination drugs following federal reclassification the previous year  

• Act 997 of 2015: Added a second APRN seat to the ASBN.

Legislative Proposals That Did Not Pass

• 2009 – HB 1134 (Rep. Clark Hall): The “Healthcare Access Improvement Act” proposed allowing collaboration with another prescribing provider (not limited to physicians) and reducing the collaborative practice requirement after 1,000 hours. The bill died in committee.
• 2013 – HB 1190 (Rep. Kim Hammer): Proposed authorizing CNPs to serve as Medicaid primary care providers (PCPs) and requiring reimbursement at 90% of the physician fee. The bill was withdrawn and recommended for study.
• 2015 – HB 1160 (Rep. Kim Hammer): Sought to authorize APRNs to prescribe Schedule II–V medications and establish an APRN committee to review collaborative practice agreements. It passed the House Public Health, Welfare, and Labor Committee but died in the Senate committee.
• 2015 – HB 1165 (Rep. Justin Gonzales): Proposed granting Schedule II–V prescribing authority to APRNs and physician assistants; the bill failed in the House committee.
• 2015 – HB 1926 (Rep. Kim Hammer): A payment parity bill that was ultimately withdrawn.

National Developments

Nationally, the number of nurse practitioners also doubled over the decade, reaching approximately 205,000 by 2015. Twelve additional states achieved Full Practice Authority—Arizona, Wyoming, Colorado, Hawaii, North Dakota, Vermont, Nevada, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Minnesota, Maryland, and Nebraska—bringing the total to 21 states.

Arkansas NP Practice

The second decade of CNP licensure in Arkansas was a period of tremendous growth, professional organization, and groundwork for future progress.

Honor the journey of a new CNP between 2006 and 2015 by donating $30 to the Dr. Loretta Ford Scholarship Fund.  Join the legacy of educating the next generation of CNPs in Arkansas and help ANPA reach our goal of 50% funding by Dr. Ford’s Birthday on December 28.