Tuesday PHWL Agenda and Legislative Update

Action Alert – March 20, 2017

HB 1186, removal of the Collaborative Practice Agreement with a Transition to Prescriptive Authority period, will not be heard again this session. The Arkansas Nursing Policy Roundtable remains undaunted in its efforts to remove unnecessary barriers to APRN practice. In the next two years, we will be developing strategies to continue educating our Legislators, colleagues, communities, and most of all, our patients about the importance of utilizing every health care professional to the full extent of their education, certification, and licensure. The objective of which will be to improve access to cost-effective, evidence-based, quality health care in Arkansas.

What You Can Do Today…

Tomorrow, Tuesday, March 21st, HB 1182 (APRN recognition as PCPs within the Medicaid Program) may be heard and HB 1228 (Adds Schedule II-V drugs to APRNs prescriptive authority) will be heard in the House PHWL Committee. We are asking once again for nurses to come to the Capitol as a show of support for our bills, for our legislative champions, and for our profession.

The PHWL Committee meeting will begin at 10 am in Room 130 in the Capitol building, but come earlier to find a seat. Arriving early also gives you an opportunity to network with your colleagues and to visit with the Legislators on the Committee beforehand. Please wear a lab coat or something that identifies you as a nurse. We have attached the most current House PHWL Agenda and talking points to this message for your convenience.

HB 1254 and HB 1525 are still possibilities. As you remember, these bills would move APRN regulation from the Arkansas State Board of Nursing to the Arkansas Medical Board (HB 1254), or would require a joint process between the two Boards (HB 1525). We must ensure that these bills are defeated if they are heard. Continue to educate your Legislators about the unnecessary, and potentially costly, nature of these bills. Talking points are attached.

This has been a roller-coaster of a legislative session in Arkansas! This year has truly been unprecedented for “Grassroots” activity within the nursing community. We have made great strides in our ability to communicate in real time, in getting the House Public Health, Welfare, and Labor Committee room filled with nurses, and for making new friends and gaining potential champions for nursing practice among our Legislators.

Thanks to your responses to our “Calls to Action”, communicating and educating your Legislators about the bills impacting advanced practice nursing, and your advocacy. Because of this, HB 1180 is now a law – Act 372.  This Act permits APRNs signature authority for many of the forms associated with the care you already provide to your patients. See attached Act 372.

Thank you for all you have done this session. We will do our best to keep you updated about what happens in the PHWL Committee this week! Watch for Updates and Action Alerts. Visit www.nursesforarkansas.com website ANPA Facebook pages for updates https://www.facebook.com/Arkansas-Nurse-Practitioner-Association-177076869145677/.

For any questions, you may contact arkansasroundtablenetwork@gmail.com

Your Friends,

The Arkansas Nurse Practitioner Association

In collaboration with the Arkansas Nursing Policy Roundtable and Arkansas for Nurses