Mary Jane Maloney, NP, APRN-CNP, OAAPN Director of Government Relations
S.B. 216 APRN Modernization Bill
During the summer and fall Rep. Dorothy Pelanda (the bill’s sponsor) had multiple interested-party meetings to determine the political reality of passing the bill as written. Since the goal is to pass the bill in both chambers before the next General Assembly (1/1/2017), avoiding as much political push-back while maintaining the core aspects of the bill was needed. At the end of October Rep. Pelanda sent H.B. 216 back to the Legislative Services Commission with required changes. On 11/23/2015 Substitute Bill 216 was released. The primary change in the substitute bill is the requirement for transition to practice for newly graduating APRNs in the following specialties; CNS, CNM and CNP. The transition to practice will not affect the CRNAs as the desire to remove supervision was withdrawn due to the current political environment. In the second week of December, the lobbyists for the interested parties will meet with Rep. Pelanda to negotiate any other issues with the bill. Proponent testimony will begin in January 2016.
APRN Day at the Statehouse!
Over 80 APRNs attended two political seminars and visited 50 legislators or their staffs lobbying for H.B. 216. Afterwards a post-visit discussion was held to determine successes and after-action plans. These veteran and novice APRN activists were excited by this mentored event and were surprised that when you talk about a cause you’re passionate about, all fear goes away!
Significant Ohio Board of Nursing Rule Changes starting 2/1/2016:
- The Standard Care Arrangement (SCA) needs to be minimally reviewed by the APRN and the collaborating physician every two years.
- The Standard Care Arrangement(s) must be kept for three years in the event the APRN is contacted by the Board of Nursing on a complaint. This rule is not retroactive. OAAPN recommends that APRNs with SCAs retain their 2015 SCA as the first year SCA.
- The Committee for Prescriptive Governance must now meet minimally twice a year instead of once a year.
H.B. 217 “Pink Slipping” Bill
This bill, sponsored by Rep. Ruhl, passed out of the Health and Aging Committee 16-0 on 11/18/2015. This bill will allow CNSs, CNPs and PAs who hold a psychiatric specialization/ certification to authorize a mandatory hold on an individual who demonstrates a danger to themselves or to another for psychiatric evaluation for possible admission. H.B. 217 was sent to the House for a vote. If the bill passes the House, it will be sent to the Senate Health Committee. There is no known opposition. H.B. 170 To prohibit an employer from taking an adverse employment action against a person who has not been or will not be vaccinated against influenza. This bill was introduced April 2015 and sent to committee May 2015. In November 2015 an interested party meeting was held with OAAPN lobbyists in attendance. Given the premise that APRN’s promote health and work to prevent disease and complications, OAAPN sent a letter of opposition to the bill to the sponsor, Rep. Christina Hagen.