Government Affairs Update - AANP

Florida Legislature Sends Controlled Substances Bill to Governor

While Florida HB 423 is still pending gubernatorial action, legislators last week voted near unanimously to advance the bill, which would make significant advancements for Florida NPs and authorize controlled substance prescriptive authority for the first time. If signed by the Governor, Florida will become the 50th state in the nation to authorize NPs to prescribe controlled substances.

Utah Legislation Advances to Governor
Utah SB 58 has made it through the State House and State Senate and now is being sent to the Governor for his signature. The bill provides for removal of the required consultation and referral requirement for NPs prescribing certain controlled substances if they have more than 2,000 hours of practice and are not establishing or operating in a pain clinic. The bill also places requirements on NPs related to worker's comp and the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program.

West Virginia Licensure Bill Awaiting Action from Governor
West Virginia HB 4334 has passed both chambers and only needs the governor's signature to become law. If signed into law, the bill would continue the restriction on Schedule 2 prescriptions by NPs, but would authorize longer supplies of Schedule 3s, create a new committee, and eliminate the need for a collaborative agreement after three years in a collaborative relationship with a physician.

Wyoming Becomes First State to Pass APRN Compact
Wyoming Governor Matt Mead has signed into law Wyoming HB 56, making the state the first to successfully pass the National Council of State Boards of Nursing's APRN Compact. Legislation on this topic has also been filed in Iowa and Idaho. Learn more about the APRN Compact, or visit our Members' Only State Legislation Tracking Center to read up on these and other bills from around the country.

Lay the Advocacy Groundwork for NPs Going to Capitol Hill
In just one week, nurse practitioners from across the country will be preparing for their congressional office visits on the final day of the Health Policy Conference. They will be taking key issues to their Members of Congress on Tuesday, March 22, and advocating on behalf of the entire NP profession. Outlined below and in AANP's Advocacy Center are just some of the issues that will be discussed. It is extremely important that Members of Congress hear from the NPs they represent regarding these key legislative issues impacting NP practice; both during AANP's Hill Day and in the days leading up to it. We ask that you contact your Members of Congress now, using the links below and help educate them on issues of importance to NP practice:

Ask your Members of Congress to support the Home Health Planning and Improvement Act (S. 578/H.R. 1342), which would allow nurse practitioners (NPs) to certify their patients' eligibility for home health care services.
Encourage your Members of Congress to cosponsor the Improving Veterans Access to Quality Care Act of 2015 (H.R. 1247) and the Frontlines to Lifelines Act of 2015 (S. 297), as well as the Veterans Health Care Staffing Improvement Act (S. 2279/ H.R. 4134), which would authorize NPs to practice to their full scope throughout the VA system.
Ask your Members of Congress to support legislation to allow patients of NPs to be counted in ACOs. The Rural ACO Improvement Act of 2015 (S.2259) would allow the assignment of NPs' patients to Medicare Shared Savings ACOs.
Ask your Members of Congress to support NPs and all APRNs by cosponsoring (H.R. 2713), the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act.

As always, your Federal and State Government Affairs teams are available to answer any questions. Please feel free to contact us at governmentaffairs@aanp.org or statepolicy@aanp.org.

Federal Government Affairs Team Members:
MaryAnne Sapio, VP Federal Government Affairs
Debra Swan, Associate VP Federal Government Affairs
Jan Towers, Senior Health Policy Consultant
Clark Princell, Director PAC & Grassroots

State Government Affairs Team Members:
Tay Kopanos, VP State Government Affairs
Brittany Dawn McAllister, State Government Affairs: Policy Analyst
Ambalika Williams, State Policy Coordinator