[NPInfo] The UAW and NP/PA services. WE NEED YOUR HELP.

[Sue Wiers]

In Michigan, we have been dealing with this issue for years.  The Michigan Council of Nurse Practitioners was very actively involved in dealing with BCBS over the last several years and more recently 'campaigning' for these changes during the most recent UAW negotiations.  In fact, I am fairly certain that with the recent contract changes, NPs are now a 'covered benefit' on many of the UAW - BCBS policies (can only speak for in-state Michigan policies).  I have a rather concise list of those who still will not reimburse us directly - so progress has been made.  I will try to find the documentation regarding this at work.  
 
Incidentally, I did the 'letter to your UAW rep' campaign about 5-6 years ago.  I still have a copy at work if you would like me to fax it.  However, it wasn't particularly effective.  It really does take organizational-level discussions to make a difference.  
Sue



> From: lmbjsb57 at msn.com> To: npinfo at nurse.net> Subject: Re: [NPInfo] The UAW and NP/PA services. WE NEED YOUR HELP.> Date: Sat, 2 Aug 2008 17:53:59 -0400> > Thanks for the information Dave. I tried the link and received a "page cannot be found message." You need to remove the "Here" from the address for it to work.> > My Office Manager is checking with "legal" to make sure we are "safe," then we plan to draft a sample letter and mail it to our UAW patients so they can send something to the UAW in support of our plight.> > My assistant overheard a patient in our waiting room yesterday screaming at her union rep on the phone for denying her child the availability of seeing her NP...Hopefully more will be willing to at least write.> > Linda B> ----- Original Message ----- > From: David Mittman<mailto:dmittman at advancedprac.com> > To: ACC<mailto:acc-circle at listserve.com> ; NP Info<mailto:npinfo at nurse.net> ; paforum at mc.duke.edu<mailto:paforum at mc.duke.edu> > Sent: Friday, August 01, 2008 1:00 PM> Subject: [NPInfo] The UAW and NP/PA services. WE NEED YOUR HELP.> > > Below is information supplied by the Michigan Academy of PAs.> I know Michigan is one state where NPs and PAs have not yet > established a working relationship on a state organizational level and > IMHO, it is time to start. They both need to lead on this and I bet > the physicians they work with are being hurt by this also. A universal > problem for us all.> Greg Bennett, the AAPA Past President( and a Michigan leader) told me > one way we could all tackle this new escalation to denial of NP and PA > services, is by writing to the UAW leadership. It's not just GM cars, > but the UAW controls all of the auto workers in the USA. So, maybe we > let them know that we can start buying some nice Korean cars. Hyundai > just came out with a Lexus clone. In any case, here is one contact > address for now:> UAW> Solidarity House> 8000 East Jefferson Avenue> Detroit, Michigan 48214> > http://www.uaw.org/about/officers/index.html-Here<http://www.uaw.org/about/officers/index.html-Here> is a list of their > officers. There are NO email links I can find. So, take out a few > envelopes and write them a letter and copy it a few times and mail it. > I will today.> > Remember to be civil as we want to show them what professionals we > really are.> > Let's try something like this:> > Dear UAW Leader:> > > I am a physician assistant (PA) who has treated thousands of people > over my career. I have treated expectant mothers, soldiers ready to > deploy, babies and the elderly and most folks in the middle that have > come in to see me for their medical care. All of them have left > happier and I sincerely hope, in some way, healthier than before they > saw me.> I recently found out that you have instructed your insurance companies > not to reimburse for nurse practitioner and physician assistant > services to your members. I don't understand why? NPs and PAs are now > a VITAL part of providing healthcare to the people of America. We are > officers in the military (three PAs have died providing care in Iraq), > we can diagnose, treat and prescribe in all 50 states and all 200,000 > of us want to help your members stay healthier. Our record regarding > providing high quality care is exemplary. I know good care is > important to you and we provide that good care. So, why do you not > want your members to see us?> The US auto industry is in enough trouble as it is. How does it > benefit you to be the ONLY group in the United States that will not > allow its members to see us? Is it worth the price of the public > relations and ill will, let alone the misunderstandings it will cause > with hundreds of thousands of clinicians, your members, our families, > their families, our associations and more?> Why not let the patient choose the team of clinicians they want to > care for them?> I know I am not a member of your union but I am a very smart consumer. > Please help me understand why the UAW alone across the country refuses > to let it's members see the two groups of healthcare professionals who > can and will make a difference in the lives of their members.> Sincerely,> Dave Mittman, PA> Livingston,NJ> President-Elect,> American College of Clinicians> dmittman at comcast.net<mailto:dmittman at comcast.net>> > > > > > _______________________________________________> NPInfo mailing list> NPInfo at nurse.net<mailto:NPInfo at nurse.net>> http://lists.nurse.net/mailman/listinfo/npinfo<http://lists.nurse.net/mailman/listinfo/npinfo>> *****************************> _______________________________________________> NPInfo mailing list> NPInfo at nurse.net> http://lists.nurse.net/mailman/listinfo/npinfo> *****************************
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