The Federal Government is boosting rebates for nurse practitioners by 30% and removing the requirement they must work with a doctor to access the MBS or PBS.

It comes as a new report shows only 1549 nurse practitioners are working across Australia, while another 650 have completed their masters-level training but are still working as RNs.

Currently, a doctor has to agree to provide clinical backup to a nurse practitioner for them to bill Medicare or write PBS scripts, a rule known as collaborative arrangements.

But the Australian College of Nurse Practitioners says this has mostly had the effect of financially penalising patients.