CPR seeks to counter efforts by the AMA Scope of Practice initiative that is designed to limit patients' choice of health practitioners. In the face of organized medicine's latest divisive efforts to limit these professionals' abilities to provide the care they are qualified to give, the CPR was formed for the sake of patients—to ensure that the growing needs of the American health system can be met and that patients everywhere have access to quality health care providers of their choice.

"Scope of practice" can be defined as the range of health care-related activities and services which a health care professional is educated, and certified or licensed, to provide. Please read CPR's joint statement and return here for more information from the coalition members.

• Will Your Healthcare Team Be Covered? [11/12/12]
  State health insurance exchanges being developed as part of the Affordable Care Act could determine whether consumers will have access to affordable health care services provided by a broad range of professionals. View the State Health Insurance Exchanges Fact Sheet for more details.
 

• Consumers Seek Access to Full Range of Health Professionals [7/31/12]
  Consumers are comfortable visiting a variety of healthcare professionals for treatment, regardless of what letters the provider has after his or her name, says a new survey.
 

• This Nurses Station podcast features CPR spokeswoman Maureen Shekleton discussing how scope of practice battles can prevent patients from accessing the treatments they need. Listen to the interview (7/20/2012).
 

• CPR spokespeople Lisa Summers and Janet Bezner discussed protecting patient access to the full range of health care providers during an RN.FM Radio interview.  Listen to the interview (6/18/2012) with hosts Kevin Ross and Keith Carlson.
 

• Coalition Meeting Shines Spotlight on Resources to Help Consumers Navigate Health Decisions [6/6/12]
  Public information resources such as Consumer Reports can provide evidence to help consumer make more informed choices of health care professionals.
 

• Interprofessional Care Teams Improve Clinical Outcomes, Help Address Chronic Health Issues (4/9/12) [pdf]
  With so much discussion about what’s not working in healthcare today, experts are increasingly pointing to a team-based model of care that is working to improve outcomes for patients.
 

• Essential Benefits Must Be Designed to Protect Consumer Choice (3/8/12) [pdf]
  The Affordable Care Act will extend insurance benefits to millions more consumers beginning in 2014, but the way the law is implemented could affect which healthcare providers newly insured patients can afford to visit.
 

• CPR contributed to this journal article (4/2012) [PDF] describing how collaboration among an array of health care providers can lead to easier access to care and better outcomes for patients who have complex conditions like diabetes. Reprinted here with permission from Health and Interprofessional Practice.
 

• Healthcare Coalition Focuses Attention on Patient Access Issues (6/2/11) [pdf]
  WASHINGTON – With experts predicting significant shortages of healthcare providers in coming years, representatives of leading healthcare professional organizations met recently to discuss how to ensure patient access to safe, quality care. Representatives from the Federal Trade Commission, AARP and the Citizen Advocacy Center described initiatives to expand consumer access to care.
 

• Recent Studies Show That Access to Full Spectrum of Healthcare Professionals Key to Cost-Effective Care (3/9/11) [pdf]
  WASHINGTON – Several recent studies have demonstrated that cost effectiveness for healthcare improves when health services are provided by licensed professionals other than MDs or DOs. Evidence also shows that there is no loss in quality or effectiveness of care.
 

• Coalition for Patients' Rights™ Provides Tips to Assist Patients in Choosing the Right Care Provider (11/16/10) [pdf]
  WASHINGTON – How can consumers and patients find satisfaction in an increasingly challenging healthcare environment? As concerns grow about the quality of healthcare in the U.S. and looming provider shortage threats, the Coalition for Patients' Rights™ (CPR) suggests that asking a few key questions and gaining knowledge about health professions will help people find the healthcare professional that best matches their needs.
 

• Coalition for Patients' Rights Applauds IOM Report on Addressing Nation's Health Care Needs (10/14/10) [pdf]
  In order to meet the health care needs of Americans, nurses who currently face restrictions to practicing to their full capabilities need to be fully utilized, according to a new report released by the Institute of Medicine (IOM). The “Future of Nursing” report reflects a core principle advocated by the Coalition for Patients' Rights™: patients should have the right to access services from a broad spectrum of health care professionals who provide safe, high-quality and cost effective health care.
 

• Broad Spectrum of Providers Poised to Ease Primary Care Shortage (7/20/10) [pdf]
  As health care reform is implemented, experts worry about whether there are enough primary care providers available to care for newly insured patients. One key to ensuring patients' needs are met is to promote access to all health care providers, including those who are not doctors of medicine (MDs) or osteopathy (DOs). That's the aim of the Coalition for Patients' Rights™ (CPR), established to protect patients' access to health care services and choice of providers.
 

• CPR Opposes Unnecessary Regulation of Health Care Providers (5/28/10) [pdf]
  The Coalition for Patients' Rights™ (CPR) today announced its opposition to the Healthcare Truth and Transparency Act (H.R. 5295) which would needlessly impose federal trade laws on qualified health care professionals and add another layer of bureaucracy to the health care system.
 

• CPR letter to President Obama emphasizing use of term "health care professional" rather than "doctor" (2/23/10) [pdf]
 

• Response letter to AMA (February 9, 2010) [pdf]
  CPR questions the credibility, objectivity and usefulness of the American Medical Association's Scope of Practice Data Series modules and expresses concern about the accuracy and tone of the reports.
 

• CPR Responds to AMA Scope of Practice Modules (2/9/10) [pdf]
  The American Medical Association's Scope of Practice Partnership (SOPP) is a divisive effort to restrict the practice of health care professionals who are not doctors of medicine (MDs) or osteopathy (DOs). This effort would limit patients' abilities to choose their health care providers and limit access to safe, high-quality and cost-effective health care.
 

• Coalition for Patients' Rights Letter to President Obama  (May 28, 2009) [pdf]