Legislative News

Please Reach Out to Your Legislators!

8/11/2009

Dear Colleague,

Last week, the House Committee on Energy & Commerce approved HR 3200 (America's Affordable Health Choices Act). Like the health reform bill approved by the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions last month, HR 3200 would create a new federal funding stream for nurse-managed health centers.

Despite this sucess, there are still challenges and we must be visable and vocal.

During the month of August, your Senators and Representatives will be in their home offices. They plan to host a number of town hall meetings to embrace public opinion of the health care reform legislation. You need to reach out to them!

Please try and take this opportunity to go to a town hall meeting, schedule a visit with a legislative aide in your local office, or invite your legislators to tour your health center.

What happens at home during the month of August will set the stage for what happens in the fall on Capitol Hill - And nurse practitioners now can impact how legislators will vote.

If you can and have the time, set up a face to face meeting with your senator or representative. These meetings are great opportunities to educate them about nurse practitioners.

I am including a link below to the AANP Roll Call ad. It is the message we want to deliver. Feel free to download and use it!

If you are able to attend, please let me know and give me the feedback from the meeting. I am also attaching some " strategic tips" that our national organizations are asking us to use at these meetings.

Stay strong....we are in the right place at the right time... WE CAN do this!!

TIPS:

1) Play down our dependent role. Let them know we are independent providers despite our state requirement for collaboration.

2) DO NOT talk about barriers. We do not want to be seen as using this forum to "whine" and if we discuss barriers the Docs will portray us as using this issue to advance our own agenda.

3) Use the rule of 3 - never complain, condemn or criticize. Nurse practitioners can and do take the high road. Be professional and proud. If someone there is difficult, do not argue. That does more harm than good. State facts and report data. We have plenty that supports our successes as primary care providers!

Please try and get to the legislators. This is critical to our success!!

Thank you for all you do to advance our practice!


Nancy O'Rourke, MSN, ACNP, ANP, RnC.
AANP State Representative and President Massachusetts Coalition of Nurse Practitioners

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Link to AANP Roll Call Ad:
Download File