For Immediate Release
September 28, 2021
RALEIGH – In a letter to legislators this month, BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina officially announced its support for the SAVE Act (SB 249/HB 277). The letter, which says Blue Cross NC “applauds efforts to lower health care costs and improve access to care,” was addressed to the seven bipartisan sponsors of the bill: Senators Joyce Krawiec, Ralph Hise, and Jim Burgin, and Representatives Donna White, Gale Adcock, Carla Cunningham, and Diane Wheatley.
“We support efforts like the SAVE Act that aim to move health care to lower cost settings and improve access, while retaining the quality our members deserve. It is an example of the legislature working on North Carolina-specific solutions to improve healthcare in our state,” said Chris Evans, Blue Cross NC’s Director of State Legislative and Regulatory Affairs, in the letter. She goes on to say, “Health care costs are too high in this state and our customers, which include individuals, families, and large and small employers, deserve solutions that make healthcare more affordable and more accessible.”
The North Carolina Association of Health Plans (NCAHP) also sent a letter of support to legislators this month, with Executive Director Peter T. Daniel saying, “Additional authority for providers has proven to be effective in other states.”
Blue Cross NC and NCAHP are now the 18th and 19th organizations outside of nursing to support the SAVE Act, joining a diverse coalition that includes names like Amazon, AARP North Carolina, the John Locke Foundation, Americans for Prosperity, the NC Rural Center, and others. See below for the current list of supporters.
The SAVE Act was introduced in March with more than 100 bipartisan sponsors, including a majority of the House and half of the Senate. It offers North Carolina the chance to significantly modernize regulations on Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) for the first time in more than 40 years. Two more states have already passed similar legislation this year, bringing the total number of states implementing Full Practice Authority to 24.
“North Carolina was one of the first states to fully embrace APRNs, but in the decades since, we have allowed outdated red tape to serve as a barrier to patients while other states took the lead. It is unfortunate, especially because people desperately need increased access to quality care right now,” said Tina C. Gordon, NCNA’s Chief Executive Officer. “We are grateful for Blue Cross NC’s support of this important legislation, and we hope it serves as the tipping point and finally breaks the political gridlock that has held this bill up far longer than it should have.”
Organizations outside of nursing that support the SAVE Act (in alphabetical order):
MEDIA CONTACT
Lindsey Combs
Communications and Marketing Assistant
(919) 821-4250 or LindseyCombs@ncnurses.org
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