OPINION/COLUMN
Rural healthcare has always been personal to me. Not only am I a proud rural Oklahoman, but I’m also a veteran nurse and nurse practitioner with firsthand experience in the challenges facing rural health and our communities.
I’ve spent most of my career caring for patients in communities where access to a doctor isn’t always available and the local clinic may be the only provider for miles. Even now, I continue working in a rural health clinic, keeping my eyes open to the real challenges families face every day when trying to get basic care.
One of the most important resources in underserved communities is our Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). These clinics serve a vital role by offering care regardless of a patient’s ability to pay.
They often provide primary care, behavioral health and preventive services in places where private practices or hospitals simply don’t exist. But even FQHCs rely on the workforce to make care possible, and that workforce includes Registered Nurses (APRNs) and Physician Assistants (PAs). These God-sent professionals step up every day to fill gaps and provide high-quality care where it’s most needed.
That’s why I strongly supported two measures this session that empower APRNs and PAs to do the jobs they are already trained to do, without unnecessary red tape. Though the governor vetoed these measures, the Legislature voted to override because we recognized how important they are for the future of rural healthcare.
House Bill 2298 allows qualified APRNs to apply for the authority to prescribe and order medication independently, within the bounds of Oklahoma law.
These are experienced professionals who are already carrying the load in many clinics. They will still be held to high standards, including maintaining malpractice insurance and following strict state guidelines. This bill doesn’t let APRNs go beyond their training, it simply recognizes the reality of rural healthcare and the role they already play. Although I did not vote on the bill due to a potential perceived conflict of interest, I exercised constitutional privilege to step back while still fully supporting the measure’s intent and importance.
Another great bill for rural healthcare is House Bill 2584, which authorizes PAs with substantial clinical experience to practice independently of physician supervision. These are seasoned professionals, many of whom have thousands of hours logged in patient care. The bill ensures they remain accountable, are fully insured, and are listed publicly. It gives them the choice to continue working with a physician or to practice independently, depending on the needs of their clinic and their patients.
We know that one of the biggest challenges we face in rural healthcare is supporting rural clinics that struggle to recruit doctors.
These legislative changes give medical professionals already serving rural areas the support they need to do their jobs more effectively.
PAs and NPs are an integral part of the care teams in towns across Oklahoma, and these bills allow them to keep providing the care they’re trained and trusted to deliver.
Healthcare is changing.
The needs of our rural communities are changing. As lawmakers, we must be willing to face those realities with practical, compassionate solutions.
As we celebrate the Fourth of July, I want to take a moment to reflect on what freedom really means.
It means the freedom to live with dignity and to receive the care you need, no matter where you live. It means having the right to pursue your calling, whether that’s as a nurse, a PA, a physician, or a patient who simply wants to be seen.
I hope you and your families have a great and safe Independence Day.
Let’s remember those who made our freedoms possible and keep working to ensure every Oklahoman can live a healthier, freer life.
Please feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns. My email address is cynthia.roe@okhouse.gov, or you can call my office at (405) 557-7365.
Rep. Cynthia Roe, a Republican, represents House District 42 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives.
Her district includes portions of Cleveland, Garvin and McClain counties.
