Pediatricians Ask Limits on Nonphysicians’ Role

The nation’s largest group of pediatricians wants lawmakers to maintain limits on the health care nonphysicians, such as nurse practitioners, can give to children.

The American Academy of Pediatrics is encouraging its doctors to work to block legislation allowing people who are not physicians to write prescriptions independently and permit parity in insurance reimbursement.

A policy statement being published in Chicago in the February issue of Pediatrics says the best care for a child depends on a team with a physician, preferably a pediatrician, in the lead.