Hello Everyone,

I’m sorry I haven’t been posting a lot lately; some of you may or may not know; but I have recently accepted a PNP position at Tampa Family Health Centers and relocated to Tampa about 2 months ago. Getting use to being the only “Peds” person at my site has been an experience! I would like to state since I am in Tampa; if anyone is interested in taking over my legislative position or joining our local chapter board, please let me know, via e-mail or let Lorraine know. I believe you have to be a memeber in order to join the board. I will do my best to stay pro-active for the Orlando chapter and attend dinner meetings.

*SAVE THE DATE* 

Orlando and FL Gulf Coast NAPNAP Chapter Annual Conference Saturday February 8th, 2013; pending location (All Children’s in St. Pete) Stay tune for more information!

Updates!

ANA recently partnered with the American Association of Nurse Practitioners to effectively address the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' (CMS) ruling about face-to face requirements with durable medical equipment (DME). In response to community outcry, including your letters to Members of Congress and ANA's letter to Administrator Tavenner, we are thrilled that on September 9, 2013 CMS issued a postponement for a ruling about face-to-face requirements for specified durable medical equipment (DME)items. This postponement halted any decisions from going into effect October 1, 2013.

Govement Shut Down:

Was informed that WIC offices and Head Start (which impact a large number of our patients) were closed until the goverment could come to an agreement. Anyone else informed of this!?!

Health Insurance Exchange: From the Florida Nurse Practitioner Network

General Information: View this informative message posted on AANP from Dr. Mary Wakefield, Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) about AANP and the Affordable Care Act regarding the Health Insurance exchanges. http://www.aanp.org/legislation-regulation/federal-legislation/affordable-care-act-aca.

On August 7, 2013 the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (FOIR) released proposed individual health insurance plan rates and carriers for the new Florida Health Insurance Exchange. Last week, FNPN Board members participated in regional conference calls to learn more about the plans, particularity to learn how NPs will be included in the new plans throughout the state. The law provides: 2706(a) of Public Health Service Act, created by §1201 of Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (“PPACA”) –“A group health plan and a health insurance issuer offering group or individual health insurance coverage shall not discriminate with respect to participation under the plan or coverage against any health care provider who is acting within the scope of that provider’s license or certification under applicable State law. This section shall not require that a group health plan or health insurance issuer contract with any health care provider willing to abide by the terms and conditions for participation established by the plan or issuer. Nothing in this section shall be construed as preventing a group health plan, a health insurance issuer, or the Secretary from establishing varying reimbursement rates based on quality or performance measures.” 42 U.S.C. 300gg-5(a).
 So far, only 10 insurance companies have received federal approval to sell Floridians health plans on the federally assisted health exchange, which rolls out Oct. 1. In Florida's 67 counties, there will only one or two insurance companies selling plans predominately through the new marketplace as reported by the Insurance Commissioner’s Office. No county will offer plans from all 10, but apparently FL Blues will be in all 67 counties. Insurance Plans purchased through the exchange take effect Jan. 1, 2014 and all expect the rates to rise with this form of coverage. Unfortunately, consumers may not have the wide breath of choice once thought, and many of the rural counties with have only a single plan option. South Florida counties will have the greatest number of plans to choose from, so we are watching this closely to ensure NPs gain provider status. The top 10 list are: Aetna Life Insurance Company, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida, Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company, Coventry Health Care of Florida, Inc., Florida Health Care Plan, Inc., Health First Health Plans, Health First Insurance Company, Health Options, Inc., Humana Medical Plan, Inc., and Molina Healthcare Of Florida, Inc.

Updates to license renewal:

The DOH will now view CE records in the Departments electronic tracking system, also known as CE broker, at the time of license renewal. This will happen automacitlty. To learn more please visit: www.ceatrenewal.com. Remember each year you can get a free 7 day “view” of your CE credits; you do have to input you credit card information; but they will not charge you if you cancel within 7 days.

 Florida Board of Nursing has added a new continuing education requirement: 64B9-5.013 Continuing Education on Laws and Rules. For novice to expert, some in practice find it hard to keep up with legislative changes and new rules that impact ARNP's. It is good to keep up in these rule changes to ensure all are in compliance. We encourage the other health professions to do the same. Beginning with the biennium ending in 2015, each licensee shall complete a two (2) hour course on the laws and rules that govern the practice of nursing in Florida. To receive Board approval, each course must include content on Chapters 456 and 464 of the Florida Statutes and the rules in Title 64B9 of the Florida Administrative Code. Rulemaking Authority 464.013 FS. Law Implemented 464.013 FS. History–New 4-21-13. The Laws & Rules of the Board course can only be offered by a Board of Nursing approved continuing education provider.

Remember there are 3 ARNP renewal groups for Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners (Registered Nurses): Group 1 – current license will expire at midnight, Eastern Time, April 30, 2014 Group 2 – current license will expire at midnight, Eastern Time, July 31, 2014 Group 3 – current license will expire at midnight, Eastern Time, April 30, 2013 If you have any questions please contact Sherri Sutton-Johnson at the Board of Nursing, 850-245-4444 extension 3679

Rachel Ness, DNP, ARNP, C-PNP

 E-mail with any questions: rachelpnp13@gmail.com

P.S. Look out for my updated pratice guidelines for lead screening article in our NAPNAP journal; it got published in the Sept./Oct. issue! If you don't get out journal, let me know and I'll e-mail you a copy if your interested! :)