There are so many health interventions that focus on the demand side. But giving people insurance cards without increasing the supply of providers does not work. That's why I've been working on scope of practice since 2015. Expanding care means expanding supply.
"Impact of Fentanyl Test Strips as Harm Reduction for Drug-Related Mortality" Medical Care Research and Review. with Bhai and McMichael. Forthcoming.
“New Evidence on the Labor Market Effects of Scope of Practice Laws for Physicians and Nurse Practitioners” with M. Bhai. Forthcoming at Contemporary Economic Policy. Presented at the Society of Labor Economists, Minneapolis, MN, May 6, 2022. Presented The Effect of Regulating Healthcare Workers on Patients and Practitioners Papers Workshop Portland, OR July 28, 2022. Presented ASSA meetings January 8, 2023. New Orleans, LA.
“Trends in APRN Involvement in Pregnancy Episodes 2008-2014.” with Bhai, Motolenich (student), and Hughes. Journal of Nursing Regulation. 15(4), 51 – 59. (2025).
Hughes, D. R., Filar, C., & Mitchell, D. T. (2022). Nurse practitioner scope of practice and the prevention of foot complications in rural diabetes patients. The Journal of Rural Health, 38(4), 994-998.
Bhai, M., & Mitchell, D. T. (2022). The effects of occupational licensing reform for nurse practitioners on children's health. Southern Economic Journal.
“Electronic Sharing of Diagnostic Information and Patient Outcomes” with Deyo, Khaliq, and Hughes. American Journal of Managed Care. 24:1, 32–37 (2018).
Working Papers
The Impact of Nurse Practitioners and Certified Nurse Midwives on Maternal and Infant Outcomes in High-Risk Pregnancies: Evidence from HCUP Data" with McMichael.
Invited Presentation "Increasing the Supply of NPs and Scope of Practice." Coalition of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses Indiana Annual Meeting. CE credits. French Lick, IN 3/1/2024
Invited Presentation "Political Economy and Rent Seeking with Scope of Practice." Coalition of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses Indiana Annual Meeting. CE credits. French Lick, IN 3/1/2024
Invited Presentation. "Scope of Practice in Alabama: Ending Red Tape." Manuel Johnson Center Red Tape to Red States. Birmingham, AL. February 23, 2023.
Invited Presentation. “The Effects of Occupational Licensing Reform for Nurse Practitioners on Children’s Health.” With Bhai. University of North Texas. Denton, TX. Feb 18, 2022.
Invited Presentation. “The Effects of Occupational Licensing Reform for Nurse Practitioners on Children’s Health” with Bhai. Scope of Practice Scholar Huddle. Via Zoom. Feb. 16, 2021.
Invited Presentation. “Scope of Practice and Access to Care for Alabama."University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL. August 27, 2019.
Invited Presentation. “Scope of Practice and Access to Care.” University of Arkansas Little Rock. Little Rock, AR February 20, 2019.
Invited Presentation. “Scope of Practice in the States.” SPN Annual Meeting. Salt Lake City, UT. Oct. 9, 2018.
Invited Presentation. “Scope of Practice and Occupational Licensing” North Dakota State University. Fargo, ND March 9, 2017.
Invited Presentation. “Health Policy Update – Access to Primary Care and Nurse Practitioners in Arkansas.” Arkansas Nurses Association 103 Annual Convention Hot Springs, AR. Oct. 27, 2016. Continuing Education Requirement Course.
Policy Briefs
“Expanding Health Care Access; The easy way.” With M. Bhai. Commonwealth Foundation: Harrisburg, PA. (May 9, 2023).
"The Case for Nurse Practitioner Reform: Full Practice Authority in Pennsylvania" with M. Bhai. Commonwealth Foundation: Harrisburg, PA (Dec. 5, 2022)
"A Broad Consensus: On Expanding Nurse Practitioners’ Scope of Practice" by David Mitchell. Arkansas Center for Research in Economics. Conway, AR. (2019)
“Solving Arkansas’s Primary Care Problems by Empowering Nurse Practitioners” by David Mitchell, Jordan Pfaff, and Zachary Helms. Arkansas Center for Research in Economics. Conway, AR. (2015 and 2016)
Public Interest Comment on VA NP [RIN: 2900-AP44 - Proposed Rule - Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (81 Fed. Reg. 33155, May 25, 2016)] 1. Washington, DC. (July 25, 2016.)
Op-Eds
"Nurse practitioners can solve rural health care shortages." Broad + Liberty. April 19, 2024
“The ‘ICAN’ Act May Help With Healthcare Shortages, but We Need More” with B. McMichael. D.C. Journal. Nov. 13, 2023.
"Solving a health care conundrum." with M. Bhai. Perspectives on Work. October, 2023.
“Restrictive regulations are the reason NJ lacks nurse practitioners. Lift them.” with D. Zanzalari. North Jersey News. Sept. 13, 2023.
“Allowing nurse more freedom can save NC from healthcare shortages.” With J. Roberts. Carolina Journal. April 25, 2023.
"Free nurse practitioners: Heavy-handed restrictions are costing Texans money and better health." With D. Stansel. Dallas Morning News. April 15, 2023.
“Grant Alabama’s nurse practitioners independence!” With D. Sutter. 1819 News. March 26, 2023.
“Indiana doesn’t have enough primary care doctors – nurse practitioners can help." IndyStar. Feb. 5, 2023.
“Let nurse practitioners fully practice in Michigan.” With Skorup. Detroit News. November 17, 2022.
“Dying for Care.” Arkansas Democrat Gazette. June 13, 2022. with M. Bhai. Picked up by NWA Online
“Let them practice: Loosen primary care restrictions.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. March 13, 2021.
“Better health care empowers nurse practitioners.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Dec. 31, 2018.
“Nurse practitioners: Good for patients but a bitter pill for doctors.” The Hill. Oct. 5, 2016.
Pennsylvania Senate Majority Policy Committee: hearing on "Challenges Surrounding Rural Health Care." Monongahela, PA 15063. February, 14 2024. Written Testimony (Not a transcript)
Arkansas State Senate. “Nurse Practitioners and Medicaid” HB 1254 Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee. March 15, 2021.
Arkansas State Legislature. “Remove Collaborative Practice Requirement for APRNs.” House Public Health, Welfare, and Labor Committee. HB 1282. Feb. 26, 2019.
Arkansas State Senate. “Collaborative Practice and APRNs” Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee. SB 189. Feb. 20, 2019.
Arkansas House Public Health, Welfare & Labor Committee on February 16, 2017 HB1182. Regarding the potential savings the state could generate by allowing nurse practitioners to provide primary care to Medicaid patients. This bill failed to get the 11 votes it needed to pass, getting only 10 for and 9 against.
Arkansas State Legislature. Joint Performance Review Committee. “Advanced Nurse Practitioners and Scope of Practice Regulations.” Oct. 28, 2015.
Arkansas State Legislature, Public Health Welfare, and Labor Committee. “Occupational Licensing and HB 1158.” February 12, 2015.