OPPAGA       FTC OPINION      IOM BRIEF    FL TAX WATCH BRIEF

Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners can increase safe quality access to health care while decreasing costs and creating jobs. Florida is in the midst of a health care crisis, a budget shortfall, a physician shortage and high unemployment. Because of these economic factors, patients are unable to access health care while state legislators continue to refuse to allow other qualified health care practitioners to meet those patients’ needs. ARNPs can immediately increase access to care, create jobs and save this state hundreds of millions of dollars per year if restrictions to their ability to practice are removed.

May1, 2011 Louisiana gets FTC opinion     

Read the  Louisiana Opinion.

April 10, 2012 CAP-PAC Efforts Get Medicaid Language Changed!

 SB 730 was recently signed into law and includes changes to the Medicaid waiver’s primary care initiative. Specifically the waiver had specified that patients must choose a physician as their primary care provider. The new language changes the word physician to provider. The bill summary specifically states that primary care can be provided by ARNPs.

Read SB 730 here, and the bill summary here.

March 31 2012 NP takes on FMA in Video

Controlled Substance Authority video by Jana Esden FNP

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ft5Chd_pWPg 

 Let’s get this video to go viral! Please send this link to  all your colleagues, friends and relatives. Please post it on your face book page, twitter page and all other social media pages you are involved in. If you know anyone in the media, please send it to

 March 20, 2012 Federal Trade Commission Opinion for Kentucky  Read it here

March 10, 2012 Baker Act Bill Not Placed on Calendar, Dies in Senate.

 Although Rep. Campbell RN was promised that HB 1195 would be placed on the special order calendar and heard on the senate floor the last day of session, that promise was not kept.

 Rep. Campbell RN was disappointed but vows to file the bill again next year. She emphasized that the grassroots work of ARNPs in this effort was phenomenal and she was thankful for those efforts.

 CAP-PAC is grateful to Rep. Campbell RN for her extraordinary efforts on this bill! Thank you Rep Campbell. !!!

 March 5, 2012 Baker Act Passes House Unanimously

HB 1195 passed on the house floor with a vote of 116 yeas and no nays.

It is scheduled to be heard on the house floor Tuesday. Please continue to email the senators and send a thank you note to your representatives

HB 1195 Baker Act Bill  Unanimously Moves to House Floor.

HB 1195 has unanimously passed all three house committees and now will move to the House floor for a final vote. Presently it is in the Senate budget committee as SB 1750 but is expected to bypass that committee and go to the Senate Floor. Please email legislators to ask for their support!.

 Here is the link to the Florida House of Representatives and Florida Senate. There are 120 Representatives and 40 Senators. Please email as many as you possibly can. Your efforts have made a real difference! Please keep up the good work and see this bill through to Victory!

Janice Hoff to Run for AANP State Representative.

Janice Hoff announced her candidacy for AANP State Representative today. Janice is Vice Chair for Administration for CAP-PAC. She has served as FNA district president and on the board of the Florida Center for Nursing. Janice has extensive experience in administration and organized last years Pensacola Rally for ARNPs. She was successful in garnering media attention of the rally and ARNPs were featured on the evening news as a result. Read her AANP biosketch and view her Flyer here.

Please vote for Janice, her leadership and  commitment to civility and collegiality will move our state in the right direction.

February 22, 2011 Baker Act Bill Moves Forward

 HB 1195 Passed the House Judiciary Committee with a unanimous vote yesterday. This is the second committee in the House that it has received a unanimous vote. Next stop is the House Health and Human Services Committee Please email committee members and ask them to support HB 1195 to allow ARNPs to sign a certificate of involuntary examination for suicidal and homicidal patients.

 Companion bill SB 1750 has been slated to by pass the senate budget committee and go straight to the floor for a vote. Please email all the senate  members and ask them to support SB 1750.

 February 21, 2011 HRSA to send out NP survey. In an effort to gather data about nurse practitioners and their specialty practices, HRSA is sending out a survey to a random sample of 22,000 NPs across the country. If you are chosen to fill out this survey, it is very important that you do so and return ASAP to HRSA. The data will be used to improve access for patients and show the value of NPs.

 February 17, 2012 Tallahassee. Meeting with Medicaid Deputy.

In an effort to make sure patients will have access to nurse practitioner care under the new Medicaid Waiver, CAP-PAC again met with Deputy of Medicaid services, Justin Senior.  Senior has proposed a rule interpretation that NPs will included in the definition of primary care physician. These new rules must still be approved before they are implemented. In addition, issues regarding difficulties of insurance empanelment by ARNPs were addressed. Mr. Seniors is researching the problem and will report back to CAP-PAC regarding these issues.

February 16 2012   SB 1750 Passed Senate Health Regulation Committee

SB1750/HB1195  will allow ARNPs and PAs to sign a certificate of involuntary examination for patients who are suicidal or homicidal.

 Please email Senator Siplinand Rep. Campbell to thank them for working so hard on these bills.siplin.gary.web@flsenate.gov

daphne.campbell@myfloridahouse.gov

The bill will now move to Senate Budget and House Judiciary Committees.

Please email Rep Snyder, william.snyder@myfloridahouse.gov  Chair of the House Judiciary Committee and ask  him to agenda the HB 1195. Also email the House Judiciary Committeemembers and ask for their support of this bill. 

Please email the senate and ask them to support this bill

February 2, 2012 Baker act bill to be heard in Senate and House next Week. Please email Senators and come to capitol to support. Click here for details

HB1195 and SB1750 to allow ARNPs to Baker Act will on the agenda next week in the House and Senate. Wednesday Feb 8 at 8am HB 1195 will be heard in the House Judiciary committee. Thursday Feb 9 at 1:30 pm SB 1750 will be heard in the Senate Health Regulation committee. .

Please email the representatives on the Senate Health Regulation Committee and ask them to support:

January  30, 2012 Message from Coalition Partner FNN

 

January 25, 2012

Please email  the 2012 House Judiciary Committee to Support HB 1195

January 17, 2012 HB 1195 Passes 1st Committee in house
Tallahassee. HB 1195 by Rep Daphne Campbell RN passed the health and human services subcommittee yesterday with a unanimous vote. The bill will now be sent to the house Judiciary Committee. It has also been filed in the Senate in the Health Regulation Committee by Sen. Gary Siplin.  Please email and call the chairs of these committees and ask them to agenda the bills
Rep. William Snyder Chair House Judiciary Committee    850-488-8832 willliam.snyder@myfloridahouse.com

Senate Companion bill SB 1750 filed by Senator Siplin is in Senate Health and Regulations Comittee. Please email Senator Rene Garcia, Chair of this committee and ask him to place it on the agenda.

Sen. Rene Garcia Chair Senate Health Regulation  (850) 487-5106  garcia.rene.web@flsenate.gov

January 12, 2012 HB1195 Baker Act on Agenda, Call and EMAIL Committee Members

The Baker Act Bill HB 1195 will be heard in the house on Tuesday January 17th at 3:30 Webster Hall (212 Knott). Please call committee members and ask them to support this bill and EMAIL the members. HB-1195-Talking-Points.  Here is a Policy-Brief-HB-1195about the bill.  

January 9, 2012 ACT NOW! Contact Health and Human Services Access  Chair and members to hear HB 1195 allowing ARNPS to Baker Act.

January 4, 2012 Rep Daphne Campbell RN / Sen. Gary Siplin introduce Baker Act Bill HB 1195, SB 1750

Representative Daphne Campbell RN filed HB 1195 to recognize ARNPs among the professionals who may involuntarily commit a patient under the Baker Act.
Senator Gary Siplin filed SB 1750 the companion senate version of the bill. This bill will give authority to ARNPs to protect the lives of their patients and the public when a patient is no longer able to protect their own life or places the life of another in danger.

Nov 17, 2011 Meeting with Medicaid Deputy Chief

Board Chair Stan Whittaker met with Florida Medicaid Deputy Chief Justin Senors this week to discuss the language in the new Medicaid reform law. Mr. Senors and several members of his staff were present for the meeting. Whittaker discussed the issues with language that requires patients to sign up with a physician to join the new HMO Medicaid managed care program in the state. Whittaker also expressed concern that many of these HMOs are refusing to empanel ARNPs as primary care providers and ARNPs are forced to bill under their supervising physician’s contract with the HMO. Mr. Senors expressed the same concerns and he and his staff are working to try to introduce a Medicaid fix bill to correct this and other problems in the new law.

Nov 18, 2011 NP inducted into Pennsylvania Fellowship of the College of Physicians

Sandra Ryan NP was inducted into the fellowship of the Pennsylvania College of Physicians this week. Ryan was inducted for her efforts to improve the nations health care. Read the complete story here

Nov 13-19 NP Week in Florida!

NPs around the state held events to celebrate NP week and raise pubic awareness of the role of NPs. The week kicked off with a 6 minute interview of Stan Whittaker and Mai King on Facing Florida, a state wide Sunday news talk show with host Mike Vasilinda. In Tallahassee Elizabeth Markovich and Mai Kung held a press conference at Markovich’s clinic. The interview was aired on the Tallahassee evening news. In Daytona Marifrances Gullo and Susan Lynch held a conference at Gullo’s clinic, an article is scheduled to run in the Daytona News Journal. In Sarasota Michelle Lipman and several members of the Sarasota Council of Advanced Practice Nurses held a rally in front of Sarasota Memorial Hospital that was aired on SNN news later that day. In the Keys, Pat Perry arranged for a news article about Great job to all the NPs who worked so hard to get the word out!

November 13, 2011 Mai Kung and Stan Whittaker Interviewed for NP Week! 

Dr Mai Kung and Stan Whittaker were interviewed on Facing Florida today with TV host Mike Vasilinda. Facing Florida is a state wide Sunday morning news program that airs in 7 of 10 state media markets. The pair spoke about the recent Tax Watch report and how NPS can improve care access and reduce costs. Great Job Mai and Stan! Watch the 6 minute interview here
November 4, 2011 FMA and Fl Tax Watch Publically Spar Over Latest Report

In an article by online news source “The Current” the Florida Medical Association publically disparaged the competency of both FL Tax Watch and ARNPs. But FL Tax Watch shot back in written statement to the “Sunshine State News” stating “The FMA is clearly acting in their members’ best interests in appearing to believe that the 96 percent of the country that allows ARNPs and PAs to provide these types of services is acting against the public welfare, and that patients in these other 48 states are in peril”

Both these articles have a place for comments. We urge you to log on and be heard.

November 3, 2011 Florida Tax Watch New Detailed Policy: Let ARNPs Practice

Florida tax watch issued a policy brief today specifically aimed at removing barriers to ARNP and PA practice in Florida. The conservative Tax Watch urged state legislators to change current law to allow for full prescriptive authority and independent practice with insurance billing capability. Read the report here. Please forward this to your state legislators and call their offices to let them know about the report. We must get this word out. The more they hear from us, the more they will listen.

NP Week Events Planned November 13-19

Several events are being planned for NP week, November 13-19th throughout the state.

Television Show Interview: Dr. Mai Kung and Stan Whittaker will be interviewed on FACING FLORIDA, a state wide television show hosted by Mike Vasilinda. Show tentatively scheduled to air Nov 13th. For a list of stations and air times click here
Press Conferences Planned. Press conferences in Tallahassee, Daytona Beach and Sarasota are planned for NP week. Please feel free to attend. If you wish to speak or need directions to attend, please contact one of the people below.

Daytona Beach: Nov 15, 11-12 noon

Tallahassee: Nov 15, 11-12 noon

Sarasota: Nov 16

Oct 25, 2011 CAP-PAC participates in Medicaid Advisory Council Meeting

Stan Whittaker attended a Medicaid Advisory Council meeting in Tallahassee October 25th. This group last met in June of this year. The meeting was chaired by Justin Senior the Deputy Director for Medicaid. Mr. Senior updated on the EHR and pharmacy for the coming year and shared the proposed cuts for Medicaid for the upcoming Budget.

One of the cuts proposed was to limit office visits to two visits a month and the canceling other projects such as dental care, vision care, and podiatry services. One of the physicians present raised concerns about the limited number of office visits. CAP-PAC board chair Whittaker Stan asked a question about the office visits and explained that many ARNPs had their office in the long term care facilities as well as hospice and assisted living and limiting patients to two visits in this setting was not going jeopardize care.

After a discussion Mr. Senior assured Whittaker that this was not the case for long term or elder care. He went on to say that this was in a separate office setting and that this was a proposed budget cut and not set in stone.

Oct 25, 2011 Janice Hoff and Dixie Thompson Attend Delegation Meeting

The meeting was held Oct 25, 2011 with the following legislators present: Senator Don Gaetz, Senator Greg Evers, Rep. Doug Broxson, and Rep Clay Ingram (Rep. Clay Ford absent). In addition to my speech, Dixie Thompson, ARNP also spoke emphasizing the potential cost savings the removal of the ARNP barriers to practice could realize for the state of Florida. She owns a Women’s Health practice for uninsured women and is also active in a state HIV program which has a significant waiting list for HIV medication assistance. 

Oct 25, 2011 Governor Issues Proclamation on NP week.

Oct 24, 2011 CAP-PAC attends Center to Champion Nursing and RWJF Florida Action Committee to implement IOM report.

Susan Lynch attended the FL Action Committee of the Central Florida Region. Susan Hassmiller, principal author of the IOM report on the Future of Nursing spoke and gave an overview of how the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) can help states implement the IOM report. Mary Lou Brunell, Chair of the Fl Action Committee guided participants to choose a topic of interest and develop strategies to implement in their regions. Several people choose to work on scope of practice issues and a committee was formed. Updates to follow

Sept 24, 2011
Michigan Governor Rick Snyder calls for removing restrictions on ARNPs.
Gov. Snyder of Michigan released a report asking for his newly created The Office of Regulatory Reinvention (ORR), to look at how licensing boards may be over regulating health professions. He cited the looming physician shortage as a concern. The report states: …”resolving the issue requires that we take a look at how other members of the health care team can partner with the medical community to deliver those services.”

It goes on to say, “understanding the role of physician extenders such as advanced practice nurses and physicians’ assistants in the delivery of primary care services is critical to addressing access issues. The ability to more effectively utilize mid-level practitioners is limited, however, by our current regulatory system. Accordingly, I have asked ORR to work closely with the MDCH to develop and implement a strategic plan to address our current and anticipated shortages in the health care sector and identify the regulatory reform necessary to successfully posture Michigan for future needs.” Gov Snyder’s remarks

September 16, 2011

Tallahassee. Florida Tax Watch Again Recommends ARNPs be allowed to practice at full scope to save state money. read the Tax Watch report here for information about ARNPs

September 13, 2011

Washington D.C. ACNP Health Policy Agenda Member Input Needed
In preparation for formulating the 2012 Public Policy agenda, ACNP is asking that you review the current agenda and respond. ACNP is committed to having your voice heard on Capitol Hill. Members of the ACNP Board of Directors are available at the Exhibit Booth during the upcoming Clinical Conference in Denver to discuss your concerns, ideas, and to make sure that your voice is heard on Capitol Hill!

September 10, 2011 

Orlando. CAP-PAC invited to and attends White House Hispanic Initiative. Board Members Rosemary Ligouri and Susan Lynch were invited to participate in a first ever White House Hispanic Initiative. The Initiative brought top level White House Staff to Orlando to meet with local community leaders to address issues of concern. Ligouri and Lynch addressed flaws in the Medicaid reform law passed by state legislators this year. These flaws will make it harder for patients to access care by requiring enrollees to sign up with a physician as their primary care provider. The law is specific that patients must sign up with a primary car physician to enroll. With about 5% of physicians in Florida taking Medicaid, and some counties without a Medicaid physician provider, this means restricted access for numerous patients. Also discussed was the need to remove practice barriers to avoid duplication of services and doubling of costs to the system

 

August 2011
Tallahassee. Speaker Cannon released the 2012 House committee Assignments.

August 26, 2011 CAP-PAC Attends Medicaid Long-Term Care Managed Care Technical Advisory Workgroup. Chairman Stan Whittaker attended the work group and was able to voice concerns regarding the new Medicaid reform bill and its requirements that patients sign up with a primary care physician. Whittaker spoke to key members of the group to explain that this requirement could jeopardize health care access for many patients in rural areas where there are Medicaid physician shortages. Members of the group were unaware of this problem until Whittaker shined light on the problem. Whittaker went to the meeting on his day off to advocate for patients and ARNPs. THANKS STAN!

August 26, 2011
CAP-PAC Vice-Chair for Administration, Janice Hoff partnered with a state AARP representative to visit Senator Don Gaetz in his home office. Senator Gaetz is Hoff’s state senator. She reviewed the OPPAGA report and the costs savings data if ARNPs were allowed to practice at full scope. Janice is employed full time as a Geriatric Nurse Practitioner and knows first hand the barriers patients face in getting care because of ARNP restrictions.

August 25,2011
Janice Hess, Marifrances Gullo, and Susan Lynch have been invited to speak on legislative activism at local APRN conferences. Hess is Vice Chair of FNA PAC and Gullo is Chair of FNPN PAC. The three hope to demonstrate the power of collaboration among APRN state groups.

August 25,2011
Washington D.C. National Initiatives Need Your Assistance
“Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act” (S. 227/H.R. 2267),”Medicaid Advanced Practice Nurses and Physician Assistants Access Act” (S. 56/H.R. 2134)
Visit or contact your state senators and representatives during the August recess to ask them to sponsor these bills and discuss critical issues facing our patients. This is a critically important time for nurse practitioners to get involved – meeting with members of Congress. 

August 18, 2011
Tallahassee CAPN Announces September 24 Conference
Join Advanced Practice Nurses in Tallahassee for the Tallahassee Council of Advanced Practice Nurses annual conference. 

July 26, 2011
Physician and Editor in Chief of Northeast Florida Magazine Resigns Over ARNPs
Joan Huffman, MD wrote an editorial in support of ARNPs for the Duval County Medical Society’s magazine Northeast Florida Medicine. Dr Huffman was Editor in Chief of the magazine but resigned her position when the Duval County Medical Society asked her to retract her editorial. Read Dr.Joan Huffman MD remarks. CAP-PAC applaudes her efforts to remove access to care barriers. Reprinted with permission of Joan Huffman, MD.
July 22,2011
American College of Nurse Practitioners Designates CAP-PAC as State Affiliate.
In order to further assist Florida APRNs to remove access to health care barriers CAP-PAC is partnering with the American College of Nurse Practitioners (ACNP) and is now the state affiliate for ACNP. CAP-PAC is honored to be recognized as state affiliate by ACNP and continues to partner with state and national organizations to further the APRN agenda.