Health care consumers are more likely to find highly qualified clinicians because of a little-known provision in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) that authorized Medicare to pay for graduate-level nursing education, according to a new report by AARP’s Public Policy Institute.

The report, “Improving Access to High Quality Care, Medicare’s Program for Graduate Nurse Education,” looks closely at the ACA provision that authorized Medicare for the first time to pay for graduate nurse education (GNE) at five medical centers in Philadelphia, Durham, NC, Scottsdale, Ariz., Chicago and Houston, Texas. A major goal of the project is for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) to provide patient- and family-centered clinical services to the growing number of Medicare beneficiaries.

The program was recognition by Congress “that primary care is often best delivered in the settings where most people prefer to receive care, such as their own homes, medical offices, community health centers, outpatient clinics and retail clinics,” the report said.

The report, which is part of AARP’s “Insight on the Issues” series, was authored by Winifred V. Quinn PhD, director of advocacy and consumer affairs for AARP’s Center to Champion Nursing in America; Susan Reinhard, RN, PhD, FAAN, senior vice president and director, AARP Public Policy Institute and chief strategist, Center to Champion Nursing in America; Laura Thornhill, and Peter Reinecke, consultant to AARP.