We ask you to please vote YES to allow full practice authority for APRN's (nurse practitioner's) as part of the $200 million Rural Health Transformation Program award.  Tennessee faces a growing healthcare access crisis, particularly in rural and underserved communities.  More than 80 of the 95 counties are designated Health Professional Shortage Areas, limiting timely access to primary and preventive care.  Full Practice Authority allows APRN's to practice to the full extent of their education without having to find and then pay a collaborating physician to sign 20% of their charts every month.  APRN's were granted full practice authority during the Covid-19 pandemic.  This means that APRN's are more than capable of practicing to the full extent of our education at all times.  More than half of the states have Full Practice Authority for APRN's.  Peer-reviewed evidence shows that these states with Full Practice Authority have improved access to care, stronger rural workforce recruitment and retention, high patient satisfaction, and no reduction in quality or safety.  Tennessee APRN's want to step up and fill the gap in the shortage of healthcare providers for our patients who are your constituents.