What happens when rural healthcare disappears?
Across Georgia, thousands of patients have experienced the compassion, dedication, and life-changing care provided by Nurse Practitioners.
Perhaps a Nurse Practitioner was the first healthcare professional who truly listened when you were struggling with anxiety or depression. Maybe they helped your child through a difficult diagnosis, managed your diabetes when no specialist was available nearby, or provided care during one of the most difficult seasons of your life. For many Georgians, especially those living in rural communities, Nurse Practitioners are not simply healthcare providers—they are trusted partners, advocates, and lifelines.
Today, that access to care is at risk. Many Physicians have cancelled protocol agreements with Nurse Practitioners out of fear, and those Nurse Practitioners risk not only losing their ability to provide for their families, but also their ability to provide uninterrupted access to essential care in their communities.
A recent statement issued by the Georgia Composite Medical Board has created significant uncertainty for Nurse Practitioner-owned practices throughout the state. As a result, many healthcare businesses operated by Nurse Practitioners have been forced to close their doors entirely, and many more may follow suit on July 1, 2026.
The impact of these closures extends far beyond the healthcare professionals who own these practices. The true cost is borne by the patients and communities that depend on them every day.
Georgia already faces substantial healthcare access challenges. Many rural counties struggle with shortages of primary care providers, psychiatric providers, and other essential healthcare services. In some communities, Nurse Practitioner-owned clinics are among the few available healthcare options. Patients often travel long distances, wait months for appointments, or go without care altogether when local services are unavailable.
If these practices close, where will those patients go?
For individuals receiving mental health treatment, interruptions in care can be especially devastating. Missed appointments may mean delayed medication management, worsening symptoms, increased psychiatric crises, and unnecessary hospitalizations. For patients managing chronic medical conditions, losing access to a trusted provider can result in delayed treatment and poorer health outcomes.
Behind every clinic that may be forced to close are real people:
The mother who finally found effective treatment for postpartum depression.
The veteran receiving ongoing support for PTSD.
The patient who is thriving in their sobriety with appropriate management of their symptoms.
The child whose ADHD is being successfully managed, is now passing their classes for the first time, and realizes they can be successful.
The elderly patient who relies on a local provider because traveling hours for care is no longer possible.
Those who schedule appointments during a lunch break because taking an entire day off work is not an option.
These stories matter. These patients matter.
This issue is not about politics. It is about preserving access to healthcare for Georgia families and ensuring that patients can continue receiving care from providers they know and trust.
Healthcare access in Georgia is already strained. The loss of Nurse Practitioner-owned practices would only deepen existing shortages, particularly in rural and underserved communities where healthcare resources are already limited.
Now is the time for patients, families, healthcare professionals, and community members to make their voices heard.
How You Can Help
If you believe Georgians deserve continued access to quality healthcare, you can help raise awareness about the impact this issue may have on communities throughout our state.
Take Action Today:
• Contact your Georgia State Senator and Representative using the sample advocacy letter.
• Contact the Governor's Office and share your concerns regarding healthcare access.
• Share accurate information with friends, family members, community groups, and professional networks.
• Encourage local APRNs, physicians, patients, and healthcare supporters to stay informed and create awareness.
• Participate in future advocacy efforts and calls to action.
Key Points to Share With Legislators and Community Leaders
• This issue may significantly impact healthcare access throughout Georgia.
• Rural and underserved communities may be disproportionately affected.
• APRN-owned practices and healthcare clinics could face operational disruption or closure.
• Georgia patients may experience delays in care or lose access to essential healthcare services.
• Additional legal clarification and review may be necessary regarding interpretation of the current protocol agreement law.
Your Voice Matters
Every phone call, email, social media post, and conversation helps raise awareness. Legislators and policymakers need to hear directly from the people most affected—patients, families, healthcare providers, and community members.
If a Nurse Practitioner has ever cared for you, your child, your parent, or someone you love, now is the time to speak up.
Together, we can help protect access to healthcare for communities across Georgia and ensure that patients continue to receive the care they need, when they need it most.
Stay up to date as this unfolds on United Advanced Practice Nurses of Georgia's website here: https://uaprn.enpnetwork.com/
Download the sample advocacy letter and contact your elected officials today.
Comments