Nursing Community Monthly Roundup - August 2018
- font size decrease font size
increase font size
August 2018
Thank You Letter to Senator Merkley for Introducing Title VIII Funding Amendment
The Nursing Community Coalition thanked Senator Merkley for introducing an amendment to the Senate LHHS-ED Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2019 that would increase spending for the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs. Senators Duckworth, Booker, Menendez, Kaine, and Van Hollen (who supported the amendment) were also thanked for their support and commitment to advancing nursing education and practice.
Senate Request Letter on Opioid Package
Forty-six organizations signed on to a letter urging for the inclusion of Section 3003, Allowing for More Flexibility with Respect to Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opioid Use Disorders, of the House-passed SUPPORT for Families and Communities Act (H.R. 6), in any final Senate opioid package. Section 3003 of H.R. 6 provides a permanent authorization for nurse practitioners and physician assistants to prescribe Medication-Assisted Treatments (MATs) to those suffering from opioid addictions and creates a five-year authorization for the other three APRN groups (certified registered nurse anesthetists, certified nurse-midwives, and clinical nurse specialists) to do the same.
The Nursing Community Coalition sent a letter to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar applauding his remarks on the need to examine scope of practice laws in order to evaluate state and local regulations that restrict APRN practice authority. The letter additionally requested a meeting with officials from HHS to discuss scope of practice issues further.
Forty-four organizations signed on to a letter welcoming Robert Wilkie as Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The letter also includes language surrounding the coalition’s position on the recent VA rule which allows APRNs to practice to the full extent of their education and clinical training, which excluded certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs). The coalition hopes to work with the VA to change this rule to give CRNAs parity with the other APRN groups and allow them to provide care within VA facilities to the full extent of their clinical training.
Meetings
The NCC held their monthly meeting on August 7, 2018 with 27 NCC organizations in attendance.
External Presence
Nursing Community Website: Site Visits: 2,500 Top Page Visited: News
Twitter: @RN_Community New Followers: 15 Total Followers: 703
Profile Visits: 101 Tweet Impressions: 5,850
Top Tweet: The NCC sent a letter to Senate leaders requesting provisions allowing APRNs to prescribe MATs, especially Section 3003 of HR 6, be included in any final Senate #opioid package.
For more information on the Nursing Community please visit: www.thenursingcommunity.org