Pennsylvania Coalition of Nurse Practitioners

10/21/2026

Where do your state legislative candidates stand on key healthcare issues?

On Friday, the Pennsylvania Nurse Practitioners PAC announced its 2026 candidate survey results, which included important questions about healthcare in Pennsylvania.

81 of the 82 state candidates who responded to the survey answered that they support full practice authority for NPs!

The PAC's survey results can help Pennsylvania voters learn more about where candidates stand on key healthcare policy issues.

A pre-election candidate survey lands two weeks before CMS sets the next round of rural health awards, which partly score states on nurse practitioner rules.

10/19/2026

Last week, the Pennsylvania Nurse Practitioners PAC held a press conference announcing the results of its 2026 candidate survey!

The PAC sent the survey to all PA state candidates running in the Nov. 3 election, including questions about healthcare priorities and full practice authority for NPs.

The survey gives voters another way to learn where candidates stand on important healthcare challenges and the future of NP practice in Pennsylvania.

Read the latest news covering the PAC press conference below!

One-fifth of candidates responded, largely in favor of expanding nurse practitioner scope of practice without physician contracts.

10/15/2026

HAPPENING NOW!

Tune in to watch the livestream from the Pennsylvania Nurse Practitioners PAC , streaming live from Erie, PA beginning at 1pm today!

Tune into the stream here:! 👇

In the lead-up to the November 3 General Election in which high cos...

10/13/2026

Last year's PCNP Annual Conference brought NPs from across Pennsylvania together to learn, network, and connect.

We're looking forward to seeing you all in Erie this October 15–17! This year's theme is "On the Shore of Change: AI, Advocacy, and the Future of Healthcare."

Click here to learn more about this year's conference, explore the schedule, and register! ➡️ pacnp.org/2026_Annual_Conference

10/11/2026

A new analysis from Harvard University found that 432 hospitals closed across the U.S. between 2010 and 2025, while only 216 opened. This is a net loss of 216 hospitals and more than 24,000 hospital beds.

Researchers also found that closures disproportionately affected smaller hospitals, safety-net hospitals, and communities facing greater social and economic challenges.

When healthcare services disappear, patients face greater challenges accessing the care they need. Strengthening the healthcare workforce and expanding access to NP care are important parts of addressing these growing healthcare challenges.

More hospitals across the U.S. are closing than opening, and urban hospitals are closing at the same rate as rural ones, according to a new Harvard Chan School study.

10/07/2026

The 2026 PCNP Annual Education Conference is almost here!

Between the keynote presentations, hands-on workshops, educational sessions, networking opportunities, and the opportunity to meet NPs from across PA, this year’s conference has a lot to offer.

Learn more, register, and view the conference schedule at the link below!
➡️ pacnp.org/2026_Annual_Conference

10/05/2026

NPs already independently provide care in most U.S. states, but in states like Pennsylvania, NPs are still required to maintain written agreements with physicians in order to practice.

These agreements create additional costs and administrative delays, even when the physician provides little direct oversight.

Passing full practice authority can help to expand access, shorten waits, lower costs, and preserve physician time for patients with complex medical needs.

Americans face long waits for basic medical care. A family-medicine appointment now takes more than three weeks on average. The average wait for an appointment with a new specialist is

09/29/2026

The rapid growth of the NP workforce could help increase patient access and decrease wait times for appointments.

More than 137,800 NP jobs are projected to be added over the next decade. As the number of NPs grows, so does the potential capacity to care for patients who are waiting for an appointment.

For patients, that means waiting less and accessing the care they need when they need it.

More than 137,800 Nurse Practitioners are expected to be added to the work force over the next decade, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.That gr

09/28/2026

A national 2026 study found that full practice authority states saw an increase in NP-provided primary care visits, without a corresponding decline in physician visits.

The study also found lower use of non-urgent emergency department care in full practice authority states.

These findings add to the growing body of research examining how NP practice regulations relate to access and health care utilization.

Impact of NP full practice authority on access and outcomes remains unclear. FPA adoption increases NP-led visits and lowers non-urgent ED use. NP full practice authority boosts access, utilization, and patient outcomes. Keywords: Workforce policy, ...

09/22/2026

Happy National Advanced Practice Provider Week!

APPs diagnose and treat patients, manage chronic conditions, order tests, coordinate care, educate families, mentor students, and play key roles in our healthcare system.

PCNP thanks all the dedicated nurse practitioners and other advanced practice providers for the work you do for patients each and every day!