Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41532526›Full record

ArticleMedical care2026

The Impact of Nurse Practitioner Full Practice Authority on Chronic Condition-Related Readmissions and Emergency Department Visits in the United States.

Joyce J Fitzpatrick, Maxwell J Mehlman, Alicia Plemmons, Evelyn G Duffy, Mark Votruba, Joshua A Gerlick, Summer Davis, Allison A Norful

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Medical care, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

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No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Joyce J FitzpatrickMarian K. Shaughnessy Nurse Leadership Academy, Elizabeth Brooks Ford Professor of Nursing, Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing Distinguished University Professor, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH.
Maxwell J MehlmanArthur E. Petersilge Professor of Law, The Law-Medicine Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Law, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH.
Alicia PlemmonsKnee Regulatory Research Center, West Virginia University, Knee Regulatory Research Center, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV.
Evelyn G DuffyFlorence Cellar Professor of Gerontological Nursing, Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH.
Mark VotrubaDepartment of Economics, Weatherhead School of Management, Cleveland, OH.
Joshua A GerlickWeatherhead School of Management, Case Western Reserve University; Research Associate, Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Case Western Reserve University, Clinical Research Scholar, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH.
Summer DavisAPRN/PA Cleveland Clinic, Ohio Association of Advanced Practice Nurses, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH.
Allison A NorfulColumbia University School of Nursing, New York, NY.ORCID 0000-0002-6202-058

Funding

Diana Davis Spencer Foundation No Number
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundChronic conditions affect over 60% of US adults and drive nearly 90% of the nation's $4.9 trillion in annual health care costs. Nurse practitioners (NPs), particularly in Full Practice Authority (FPA) states, may be critical to improving outcomes and reducing health care burdens.

objectivesTo evaluate whether nurse practitioner FPA reduces hospital readmissions and emergency department visits related to chronic conditions across the United States. RESEARCH

designA secondary data analysis using restricted Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data (2010-2019) was performed on site at the Agency of Health Research and Quality. We applied incidence rate ratios (IRRs) and difference-in-difference (DiD) models. MEASURES: Primary outcomes included readmission and emergency visit rates for five chronic conditions: high cholesterol (n=33,409), high blood pressure (n=38,858), diabetes (n=13,075), emphysema (n=2,509), and asthma (n=17,018). Covariates included county-level socioeconomic factors and rurality.

resultsStates with FPA had modestly lower IRRs for high cholesterol (0.9863), high blood pressure (0.9758), diabetes (0.9746), and asthma (0.9710) compared with restricted states. DiD models showed inconsistent effects, with most FPA*Post coefficients lacking statistical significance. However, rural FPA counties frequently showed significantly lower readmission rates, notably for diabetes and high cholesterol.

conclusionsNP FPA is associated with slight reductions in chronic condition readmissions, particularly in rural areas. While DiD models showed limited policy-specific impact, IRR findings support FPA as a promising strategy to enhance chronic disease management and access to care. Future research should address model limitations and explore causal pathways.

Indexed as

Emergency Room VisitsEmergency Service, HospitalNurse PractitionersPatient ReadmissionAdultAgedChronic DiseaseFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedUnited Statescare deliverychronic conditionsnurse practitionerpractice authority

Identifiers

PMID41532526
PMCPMC12970549

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.