Health care in Oklahoma ranks among the worst in the nation, according to U.S. News and World Report, with the state earning an abysmal 48th out of 50 states for health care overall and 46th for health care access.

Despite the state’s well-documented health crisis, the Oklahoma Senate chose to uphold the status quo, stalling a bill that would have finally granted patients direct access to nurse practitioners, strengthening the availability of primary care statewide. The Senate refused to even give the bill a hearing to a bill passed by the Oklahoma House of Representatives earlier this year.

In Oklahoma and a declining number of states, physicians enjoy a direct financial and competitive benefit codified into state law, referred to as a “collaborative agreement.” Under Oklahoma law, in order for a patient to obtain care directly from a nurse practitioner, the provider must hold a “collaborative agreement” with a physician. Contrary to claims made by the physician lobby, these agreements don’t improve care coordination or improve consultations between providers. Largely, they serve as financial vehicles that profit physicians.

State Sen. Ervin Yen, a physician, proposed a flawed prescription to address the crisis of care, suggesting reducing or eliminating the profits made by physicians for health care services provided by nurse practitioners, but maintaining the status quo of these agreements.

This health care status quo has resulted in inadequate access to health care and the state receiving health care quality rankings among the lowest in the nation.

Uncoupling the licensure of nurse practitioners from physicians doesn’t change the need for nurse practitioners and other health care providers to consult, coordinate and refer to each other in the management of their patients.

It does mean that Oklahoma can use all of its health care providers more efficiently and in more places. Twenty-two states and the District of Columbia have modernized licensure requirements for nurse practitioners, and they are leading the way with models of care delivery that support highly integrated care.

Next year, legislators should retire outdated practice barriers and ensure patients have access to timely, high-quality, patient-centered health care. The majority of patients want greater access to nurse practitioner services, and every major study — more than 100 — shows nurse practitioner-patient health outcomes are as good or better than other providers.

Other states and patients are seeing the benefits. Now it’s time for Oklahoma to do the same.

Melinda Whitten, DNP, APRN-CNP, FAANP, is the Oklahoma representative for the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. She lives in Tulsa.