Hospitals Need Clinicians. State Laws Are Changing Who They Can Hire.

Hospitals are facing a difficult staffing problem. Physician positions remain open, patient appointments are delayed, and existing medical teams are stretched thin. Some hospitals are responding by hiring more nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs). But depending on the state, these clinicians may face restrictions on the care they can provide independently.

Those restrictions have become a major legislative battle, with direct consequences for hospital staffing.

The Physician Shortage Meets State Law

According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, the United States could face a shortage of up to 86,000 physicians by 2036.

Meanwhile, an American Medical Association survey found that 89% of responding medical society executives identified scope of practice as their leading legislative priority for 2026. The AMA also reported that it and its allies helped defeat more than 150 bills expanding nonphysician practice authority in 2025.

Scope of practice determines which medical services healthcare professionals can legally provide and whether physician supervision is required.

The American Association of Nurse Practitioners classifies states into three categories: full, reduced, and restricted practice.

For hospitals, these differences affect staffing decisions. A nurse practitioner may be able to independently manage patients at an outpatient clinic in one state but require a physician collaboration arrangement in another. Hospital privileges and internal clinical policies create additional requirements.

Why This Matters to Hospital Recruiters

Consider a hospital struggling to fill a primary care physician position. Leadership may decide that hiring an experienced nurse practitioner could help expand patient access.

However, the recruiter must determine whether that candidate can legally perform the required duties, whether physician oversight is needed, and whether the hospital can support that arrangement.

These questions influence job descriptions, compensation, recruiting timelines, and operating costs.

The problem becomes more complicated when hospital systems recruit across state lines. A staffing plan that works in one location may need to be redesigned elsewhere.

And while nurse practitioners and physician assistants can help hospitals expand care teams, they cannot replace every physician role.

How ProvenBase Helps Hospitals Find More Staffing Options

Healthcare organizations cannot eliminate physician shortages or change state regulations overnight. But they can improve how they identify qualified professionals.

ProvenBase helps hospital recruiting teams search beyond traditional job boards and professional networks, with access to information on more than 10 million healthcare professionals.

Its AI-powered search tools allow recruiters to:

• Find specialized talent: Search for clinicians by professional experience, skills, specialty, location, and other relevant criteria.
• Explore overlooked candidates: Identify professionals who may not appear in traditional recruiting searches.
• Expand the talent pool: Use Talent 360° to understand which job requirements are limiting search results and where adjustments could uncover more candidates.
• Reach candidates directly: Use verified contact information to connect with professionals who may not be actively applying for jobs.

For example, a hospital struggling to fill a physician opening could use ProvenBase to explore the available physician market while separately identifying experienced NPs or PAs for appropriate team-based roles.

Recruiters must still independently verify licenses, credentials, hospital privileges, and state practice requirements.

A Better Response to Healthcare Staffing Shortages

The debate over scope of practice will continue. Physician organizations emphasize patient safety and physician-led care, while advanced practice nursing groups advocate greater professional independence and improved access.

Hospitals must operate within those rules while meeting patient needs.

That makes talent visibility increasingly important. Before assuming qualified clinicians are unavailable, hospitals should understand who exists in their market, what experience they bring, and whether their qualifications match the staffing model.

ProvenBase cannot change the rules. It can help hospitals find more of the qualified people who can work within them.

Bring ProvenBase your hardest-to-fill healthcare role. Schedule a 20-minute strategy session.