In November 2013, New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez launched a campaign to recruit nurse practitioners (NPs) to her state as part of an effort to deal with a shortage of primary care physicians. In New Mexico, NPs are allowed independent practice and prescriptive authority; Gov. Martinez highlighted neighboring states with more restrictive scope of practice laws, including Texas.
Health Care
Don’t Fence Me In: Challenges for Health Care in Rural Texas
LLANO, TEXAS—Dr. Jack Franklin often stops for coffee on his way to his modest office in this Texas Hill Country town. With a population of about 3,300, Llano is small enough that he’s bound to bump into a patient or two from time to time. At the Fuel Coffee House, he’s even served his daily...
March 16, 2026