[NPInfo] CA Assoc Of NPs alert

[np at c-zone.net]

California Association for Nurse Practitioners: Alert
California Health Care Reform Discussions Update
CANP wants you to be informed regarding the latest information on health
care reform
discussions that are occurring in Sacramento. This debate directly impacts
our efforts to provide
the highest quality health care services, and we are working hard to make
sure NPs are central to
the solution. If you have any questions, please contact Executive Director
Holly Macriss at
hmacriss at canpweb.org.
General Overview
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger held a press conference to unveil his
latest health care reform
proposal. Here is a link to the Governor’s 200 page proposal:
http://gov.ca.gov/pdf/gov/HCR-RN0729963.pdf. The policy proposal is very
similar to
previous versions. However the main change is with respect to
financing
the Governor has
backed away from the proposed one cent sales tax and is now recommending
to leasing out the
California lottery which would bring about $2 billion annually towards
health care reform. This
has led to concern from Democrats about the impact on education financing.
Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez and Democratic leaders are still very
concerned that there are
not enough financial incentives or subsidies for working class
Californians who, under the
Governor’s proposal, would be required to have health insurance. Democrats
want increased
subsidies through broader eligibility requirements for programs such as
Healthy Families, as well
as tax breaks for those who would be purchasing health insurance. The
Democrats still want to
see an increase in the employer contribution portion to 7.5% of payroll,
while the Governor’s
proposal remains between 1% and 4% of payroll depending on various factors.
Specific to Advanced Practice Nurses and Physician Assistants.
The Governor includes language that would allow NPs and PAs to supervise
medical assistants
in all settings, raises the physician ratio to 6 to 1, and sets up a task
force made up of Board of
Registered Nursing members, Medical Board members, higher education and
the Director of the
Department of Consumer Affairs to make recommendations regarding nurse
practitioner scope
of practice which would require regulations be promulgated by 2010.
CANP as well as other advanced practice AND nursing groups have expressed
concern
over the inclusion of the Medical Board on this task force and are instead
asking for the Board of
CANP Legislative Update
October 17, 2007
Registered Nursing to make such recommendations. There is great
trepidation that this could set
a precedent for the Medical Board having a hand in interpreting nurses, as
well as other health
care providers’ scope of practice when it relates to the practice of
medicine.
CANP government affairs team members have reiterated to those involved in the
discussions, that these proposals should be consistent with current
California statute that
states the Board of Registered Nursing has the sole authority to interpret
the practice of
nursing and that of advanced practice nurses. The Association’s
legislative advocacy
partners - Political Solutions - will continue to monitor these
discussions and keep CANP
apprised on the latest developments.
Other Issues of Note
In another twist, several major newspapers are reporting that a coalition
of major labor unions
and consumer groups have hired Chris Lehane, Democratic strategist, to
create a campaign
against the Governor’s proposal because of continued concerns over a lack
of affordability for
the working class and employer contributions.
The structure being discussed has not changed. If a compromise is
achieved, the policy would be
enacted through legislation, while the financing mechanism would be in an
initiative to be placed
on the November 2008 ballot. This initiative would be competing with
another initiative
sponsored by the CA Nurses Association which is the equivalent to Senator
Sheila Kuehl’s
Universal Health Care Coverage legislation, SB 840.
Discussions continue between all stakeholders, the Governor’s office and
the Legislature.
Political Solutions and CANP will continue to keep you apprised of the
negotiations and
any need for CANP members to communicate with their own legislators.
Please do not
hesitate to contact us if you have further detailed questions.
Current Healthcare Articles of Interest
Labor group says health care plan doesn't address cost of insurance
Carla Marinucci,Tom Chorneau – Chronicle Political Writers
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
http://www.sfgate.com/cgibin/
object/article?f=/c/a/2007/10/17/MN5HSQVPB.DTL&o=0&type=printable
Nurses group says Núñez has conflict
By Jim Sanders – Bee Capitol Bureau
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
http://www.sacbee.com/111/story/436580.html
CANP Legislative Update
October 17, 2007