ARNP Hospital Privileging and Reimbursement Bills

ARNPS United of Washington State is working hard on your behalf.  We have succeeded in having House Bill 1432 (https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1432&Year=2019&Initiative=false), regarding hospital privileging of ARNPs, move forward to Rules Committee.  Rules decides whether and when to  schedule a bill for a floor vote by the full House of Representatives. If your representative is a member of the Rules Committee, please send a message asking for HB 1432 to be scheduled for a floor vote.  Here is a link to the list of committee members http://leg.wa.gov/House/Committees/RUL/Pages/MembersStaff.aspx.

Unfortunately, House Bill 1433/Senate Bill 5647 (https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1433&Initiative=false&Year=2019) which would require private health plans to reimburse ARNPs the same as physicians for the same service has not been scheduled for a hearing in either the House or Senate.  All policy bills must be voted out of committee by February 22, 2019 to remain active this session. Our lobbyist is working hard to persuade key legislators to reconsider.

Despite this disappointment, we are already working to lay the ground work for a hearing for ARNP reimbursement legislation during the 2020 session.  To achieve this, we need your help.

Please attend WSNA Nurse Lobby Day.  ARNPs United is collaborating with WSNA for this event.  We will have a break out session for ARNPs for you to attend.  Please schedule an appointment to meet with your legislators to educate them on the importance of the same pay for ARNPs as for physicians when providing the same service.  Lobby Day is Februray 28, 2019 in Olympia. Details and registration can be accessed at https://www.wsna.org/calendar/event/lobby-day-2018/ .  Use the promo code ARNP2019 to register and when asked for a WSNA member number.  We will have brief you on these key bills, the Medicaid changes to home health and other issues of pressing concern for ARNPs. When you schedule an appointment, it will be best to have one after 11:30 am and also to have one separate from the appointment WSNA will be making to lobby its prime bills.

Please become a member of ARNPs United of Washington if you are not already a member https://auws.enpnetwork.com/ .  The more members, the better our fiscal health which will allow us to employ our lobbyist for an extended period of time. 

Many thanks to each of you for the work you do and for representing ARNPs in your practice and community.

Questions?  Contact Louise Kaplan at kaplanla@juno.com.  We look forward to seeing you on Nurse Lobby Day!