If you have an interest in serving with The Nurse of the Day Program during the 2011 session, go to Nurse of the Day for information on what is involved and contact Kristin Visger.
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Joanne
Stevens,
MSN, RN
NCNA Lobbyist
Director
of
Government Relations
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The 2011 session convenes January 26, 2011. This upcoming 2011 Long Session will be very interesting to watch. For the first time in years, Senate Republicans have a chance to win control of the chamber. There are 8 Senate seats that are considered too close to call. The House Democrats will likely hold control, but the margins will tighten. As is the case in all state capitals, re-districting will likely dominate a long and heated session. We expect the General Assembly to face a possible $3B shortfall next year. No type of legislation will be off limits. The issues likely to be considered next year are:
· Tax Modernization (including combined-reporting)
· Collective Bargaining
· Economic Incentives
· State Agency Restructuring
· Comparative Fault
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) was signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010. The Act is the product of the health care reform agenda of President Obama and the Democratic 111th Congress. The law includes a large number of health-related provisions to take effect over the next four years, including expanding Medicaid eligibility, subsidizing insurance premiums, providing incentives for businesses to provide health care benefits, prohibiting denial of coverage/claims based on pre-existing conditions, establishing health insurance exchanges, and support for medical research. NCNA is committed to bringing you the most up-to-date information available. Read the report to find out about some of the key provisions related to nursing.
Health Care Reform Report 
A prompt and enthusiastic response from NCNA has had a tremendous impact and the voice of nursing has been heard loud and clear. Thousands of nurses responded to NCNA’s call to action to protect the title of nurse and oppose House Bill 1286 which would extend the title of nurse to unlicensed Christian Science workers. Based on information received recently from House leaders, NCNA does not expect this bill to be heard during this legislative session.
NCNA thanks you for your rapid response to this important issue. Please spread the word to your colleagues that once again NCNA has successfully represented the nursing profession and protected the title of nurse for you! If you forwarded the legislative call to action to a non-member, please also forward a message with this positive news and ask your colleagues to join. NCNA fully expects this legislation to be introduced again next session and needs all RNs to officially join our cause.
NCNA is your professional home for nursing policy and legislation.
We are the only professional association that aggressively pursues legislation on behalf of all registered nurses in North Carolina. NCNA stands up for and supports the nursing profession on key issues like these as well as a long list of other issues critical to our future. NCNA not only advocates but very often plays a defensive role for you and your profession.
NCNA's 2009 Day at the Legislature was a success. See the link for pictures from this event.
NCNA Day at Legislature Photos
The North Carolina
Nurses Association endorses legislation and regulations
which: |
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Promote
the safety, health and access to care for all people
of North Carolina.
Support the authority of the North Carolina Board of Nursing to define
and regulate the scope of nursing practice and to set standards for nursing
education programs.
Increase access to care by enabling registered nurses to practice fully within their scope of practice as established by education and national certification.
Ensure continued competency of nurses by promoting a system of reflective
practice and improvement based on established standards of care.
Reimburse registered nurses for delivering health care services within
their scope of practice when those services are eligible for reimbursement
to any other provider.
Improve the work environment for nurses through initiatives such as
promoting the principles of recognition of nursing excellence, regulating involuntary overtime,
establishing safe staffing standards, employee safety initiatives,
and whistleblower protection.
Assist in the design of systems and the provision of resources for individuals
to achieve the educational preparation essential for excellence
in teaching,
research, practice, and administration.
Recommend registered nurses to serve on advisory, study and policy-making
bodies.
Promulgate other recommendations of the NC Institute of Medicine Task
Force on the Nursing Workforce.
Support collaboration between physicians, nurses and other health care
professionals.
Support the creation and operation of a statewide entity to secure and analyze workforce data and forecast trends as related to the nursing profession.
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Adopted
by NCNA House of Delegates on October 9, 2009.
Lobbying Costs:Estimated lobbying costs
for 2009 are 15.22% of member dues. |
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