SB 5222 Same Pay for the Same Service Scheduled for a Hearing February 1 at 1:30 pm!!

Senate Bill 5222 requiring health carriers to reimburse advanced registered nurse practitioners at the same rate as physicians for the same services is scheduled for a hearing Monday February 1 at 1:30 PM in the Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee!  Here is a link to information about the bill https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5222&Year=2021&Initiative=false.

We need your help to be sure the bill has strong support  among the committee members to be voted out of committee and sent to the full Senate for a vote.  These are the committee members with a link to each of their emails:

Health & Long Term Care (12)

Cleveland, Chair (D); Frockt, Vice Chair (D); Muzzall; Conway; Holy; Keiser; Padden; Randall; Rivers; Robinson; Van De Wege; Wilson, J.

If you do not know what legislative district you are in, here is a link to a district locator https://app.leg.wa.gov/districtfinder.

If you are in one of the committee member's districts, please send the Senator a message from this website using the Email icon from the box above.  A short message is all that is needed.  Here is a sample message.

I am your constituent and an advanced registered nurse practitioner (ARNP) who works at _______.  I am asking for your support of SB 5222 requiring health carriers to reimburse advanced registered nurse practitioners at the same rate as physicians for the same services.  The bill will have a hearing in committee Monday February 1, 2021. Currently most ARNPs are reimbursed by health carriers 15% less than physicians for the same service. This makes it difficult for ARNP owned practices and practices owned by physicians or health systems that employ ARNPs to remain financially solvent.  This problem has been exacerbated by the COVID pandemic. Health carriers have pocketed the 15% reduction in reimbursement.  Your support of this bill will help maintain access to ARNP primary, specialty and psychiatric mental health care.

I ask your support of SB 5222 and look forward to your response to this message.

[Your Nam] ARNP

Thank you for your help.  Please contact Louise Kaplan at kaplanla@juno.com with questions.  

This is ARNPs United at work for you!  If you are a member, thank you for your support.  If you are not a member, please join now and help us continue to work on your behalf.