From The President

Macrh 2010

Winter is slowly passing and much has happened since last we spoke. Health care reform nationally is still an elusive piece of legislation, but in Massachusetts we are proceeding full steam ahead.

As a member of the Medical Home Steering Committee I can tell you that the demonstration project will be accepting applications some time in March. Payment reform hearings continue and I believe we, in Massachusetts, will see a new model of reimbursement very soon, regardless of what happens in Washington.

Having said that, the political climate is shifting locally and nationally, since the election of Senator Scott Brown. Some of our state legislative friends in the House and the Senate will need our strong political and financial support to prevail in the upcoming elections. We have close ties with these legislators and they have fought hard for us. We need to make the commitment to do the same for them. We could not have had so many legislative successes over the past two years without them and we then would not be positioned as we are in the health reform efforts in Massachusetts. So you will be hearing more from me in regards to strategic planning and fundraising for our staunch legislative allies.

Earlier this week I was in Washington, DC meeting with the Senate Finance Committee aide and the Senate HELP committee aid regarding the concerns of Nurse practitioners and the health reform bill. The proposed Senate bill has language that is NP friendly, however there are still flaws and concerns that will require our close attention and vigilance, especially in the areas of reimbursement.

So my friends, now more than ever nurse practitioners must come together and show we are a force here in Massachusetts and nationally. We have gained so much yet are poised to lose so much if we become complacent.

I wish you an early spring and will leave you with this thought:
"He is most free from danger, who, even when safe, is on his guard." - Publilius Syrus

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