Hernandez To Unveil Bills To Address Physician Shortage

Sen. Ed Hernandez (D-West Covina), an optometrist, plans to introduce legislation in 2013 that would expand the health care decision-making powers of nurse practitioners, pharmacists and other health care workers in an effort to address the shortage of primary care physicians in the state. Hernandez said that without changes, the state's health care workforce will be unable to meet the increased demand for health care services once the Affordable Care Act is fully implemented in 2014.

• "California Lawmaker Wants To Expand the Roles of Health Care Workers" (Bartolone, "KXJZ News," Capital Public Radio, 12/5).