Promoting the nurse practitioner role in managed care

Managed care poses opportunities for nurse practitioners, providing they successfully negotiate new health care systems. This requires being familiar with Medicaid waivers and state policies regarding health insurance. In addition, knowledge of credentialing and compensation mechanisms under managed care enhances nurse practitioners' ability to forge provider roles. Because of the overlap between priorities of nurse practitioner practice and managed care, nurse practitioners have the potential to strengthen their roles as primary and specialty care providers in traditional and nontraditional settings.