Nurse Practitioner Practice Regulations and Psychotropic Medication Dispensing for Medicaid-Insured Adults

Area of Science:

• Health Policy
• Pharmacology
• Nursing Practice

Background:

• Nurse practitioners (NPs) play a vital role in healthcare delivery.
• Understanding the impact of policy changes on prescribing patterns is crucial for patient care.
• Psychotropic medications are essential for managing mental health conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effect of Maryland's Nurse Practitioner Full Practice Authority Act of 2015.
• To assess changes in psychotropic medication dispensing by NPs and physicians.
• To examine prescribing trends for Medicaid-insured adults.

Main Methods:

• Utilized piecewise regression analysis.
• Analyzed data from 168,509 Medicaid enrollees in Maryland.
• Compared psychotropic medication dispensing patterns before and after the policy implementation.

Main Results:

• Increased likelihood of new psychotropic medication dispensing by psychiatric-mental health NPs and other NPs.
• Decreased likelihood of new psychotropic medication dispensing by psychiatrists and other medical doctors.
• Individuals treated by non-specialty NPs were more likely to be from nonmetropolitan areas.

Conclusions:

• The Nurse Practitioner Full Practice Authority Act significantly influenced psychotropic medication prescribing.
• NPs are increasingly initiating psychotropic medication regimens for Medicaid patients.
• Policy changes can reshape healthcare provider roles in medication management.