The Oklahoma Senate Health and Human Services Committee halted House Bill 1013, while would allow advanced nurses to prescribe medications without a physician's oversight, according to Tulsa World.
Here are four notes:
1. Sen. Ervin Yen, R-Oklahoma City, Senate Health and Human Services Committee chairman, stalled the bill after previously saying he would not hear the bill in 2017.
2. The bill's supporters say it would solve the provider shortage in the state as nurse practitioners and advanced practice nurses would have prescribing authority.
3. United Health Foundation data shows Oklahoma has one of the most severe physician shortages in the nation, with 85 physicians for every 100,000 people, according to News 9.
4. The Association of American Medical Colleges reported an estimated national shortage of between 40,800 physicians and 104,900 physicians by 2030.