Hello All,

I’m sorry for the delays on legislated updates; graduation is proving to keep me very busy! :) Here is the latest news!

From ANA:

Annual Lobby Day: June 27th, 2013

Click Here to see how you can support nurses even from home!

The ANA has proposed there agenda for this year - Click Here

Scope of Practice

• Advanced Practice Registered Nurses
• Barriers to the Practice of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses
• Home Health: Plan of Care Designation
• Medicaid Coverage of Advanced Practice Nursing Health Care Innovation
• Advanced Practice Registered Nurses
• Provider Neutral Language
• Care Coordination Safe Staffing
• Appropriate Staffing
• Acute Care Staffing Work Environment & Healthy Nurse
• Workplace Health and Safety - Safe Patient Handling Quality
• Health Care Quality Measures Other Issues
• Patient Safety/Advocacy
• The Affordable Care Act - Appropriations - Rules and Regulations
• State Exchange Implementation
• Medical Malpractice Liability/ Tort Reform
• Social Security
• Protection of Medicare/ Medicaid
• Gun Violence - Assault Weapons Ban of 2013 Senate
• Assault Weapons Ban of 2013 House
• Safe Communities Safe Schools Act Senate
• Mental Health Care Nursing Shortage
• Title VIII: Funding for Nursing Workforce Development Programs
• Immigration and Nursing Workforce

They are asking for feedback on any issues you would like to see! Click Here for the survery! Its quick and easy!!

From FLANP:

House Calls For NP Workforce Task Force

Representative Corcoran has inserted NP friendly language in the House version of the Medicaid Expansion bill. If passed, a Task Force to study how to improve the primary care workforce by allowing NPs and PAs to practice more independently would be convened with a report on study findings due by January of 2014.

FLANP has been tirelessly educating state representatives and senators about the looming primary care shortage with the newly adopted Medicaid Waiver. We recently met with Speaker of the House Will Weatherford to discuss these issues. Our message is being taken seriously with the house adding this language into this very important bill. Nurse Practitioners provide safe, high quality, cost effective care. It is time to modernize Florida's Nurse Practice Act and remove the barriers that prevent patients from accessing primary care.

Your Action Requested on Primary Care Medical Homes Joint Commission Survey The Joint Commission includes NPs and PAs as clinicians able to lead a Primary Care Medical Home (PCMH). The Joint Commission has issued a survey about the PCMHs and new language governing them. At the end of the survey, there is a space for comments The AMA is urging their members to answer the survey and leave comments to oppose NPs and PAs from leading PCMHs this.

You can read the AMA article here

We urge our members to read the proposed Joint Commission changes to PCMH governance, answer the Joint Commission survey and leave comments by Clicking here

What Happened to the Baker Act Bill?

That's a good question. The answer is both simple and complex and can be answered in one word: POLITCS. After a many calls and emails to Senator Sobel, a very successful press conference and much maneuvering behind the scenes, the bill was placed on the agenda to be heard this past Monday. But another organization wanted the bill changed and placed pressure on Senator Sobel to make changes to it. In the end it was decided to commission a task force to study the Baker Act. The bill was scheduled to be heard the very next day in the Health Policy Committee, but instead it sits in rules while these changes are considered. Senator Flores and Senator Grimsley RN and Representative Campbell RN worked very hard on helping us with this bill in the Senate. We are very appreciative of their work. Stay Tuned for updates.

Good news!

SB 536, the Physical Therapy Bill which authorizes physical therapist to accept orders from nurse practitioners and to implement treatment was passed unanimously by the Senate Banking and Finance Committee this week. It has one more committee, Rules Committee, to pass before going before the full Senate.

Questions/Comments/ Concerns:

E-mail: rachelpnp13@gmail.com

Thanks! Rachel Ness