The 90th Arkansas General Assembly

Arkansas Nurses Association Mary Garnica, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC

Chair, ARNA Health Policy Committee

Objectives

Identify key bills filed or expected this session that affect nursing practice and healthcare delivery.

Learn how to advocate for the nursing profession.

The Legislative Steps for Healthcare Laws:

Legislator files a bill

House Public Health, Welfare, & Labor Committee11 votes needed

House of Representatives51 votes needed

Senate Public Health, Welfare & Labor Committee5 votes needed

Senate18 votes needed

Governor for signature

Advocates for Nursing Issues

Arkansas Action CoalitionArkansas Advocates for Children & FamiliesArkansas Assisted Living AssociationArkansas Home Health Care AssociationAARPCommunity Health CentersHomeCare Association of ArkansasMarch of Dimes

Bills to promote full scope nursing practice

HB 1160 - The certified nurse practitioner medically underserved permit programSponsor: Rep. Kim Hammer (R-Benton)Co-sponsor Rep. Justin Gonzales (R-Arkadelphia)

What the bill doesEstablishes an “opt in” permit in MUAsCNPs with > 2000 hrs/2 years collaborative

practice may apply to have CPA removedCNP with fewer than 2000 hours/2 years have

collaborative practice until they reach 2000 hrs/2 years

ARNA SUPPORTS

HB 1165 – Schedule II prescriptive authority for APRNs with DEA# Sponsors: Rep. Justin Gonzales (R-Arkadelphia)Rep. Kim Hammer (R-Benton)

What the bill does:Authorizes APRNs with DEA to prescribe

Schedule II medications, including:Hydrocodone combinationsADHD medications (stimulants)Pain control narcotics (Percocet, morphine)

ARNA SUPPORTS

AR bills filed which could adversely affect patients and healthcare delivery

HB 1136 APRN RX authority: Hydrocodone combos only Sponsor Steve Magie (R-Conway)

What the bill does

Allows APRNs and physician assistants to prescribe hydrocodone combination products if authorized by a physician under the collaborative agreement.

No authorization for anything other than hydrocodone combinations

ARNA OPPOSES

HB 1162 Creates the Arkansas Graduate Registered Physician Act

Sponsors: Rep. Deborah Ferguson (D-West Memphis)Sen. Missy Irvin (R- Mountain View)

What the bill doesAllows physicians who have reached a certain step in the

national licensure process but not yet matched for a postgraduate residency to practice under a supervising physician.

ARNA OPPOSES

HB 1120 – Anesthesiolgist Assistant Sponsor Rep. Steve Magie (R-Conway)

What the bill doesEstablishes procedures for examining and

licensure as an anesthesiologist assistant; outlines the duties an anesthesiologist assistant may perform under supervision of a licensed anesthesiologist.

ARNA OPPOSES

HB 1133 - Community ParamedicSponsor – Rep. Scott Baltz (D-Pochahantas)

What the bill does:Establishes requirements for licensure as a

community paramedic, including existing licensure as a paramedic and completion of an additional training program; authorizing community paramedic to perform particular services.

ARNA opposed to current language

SB 133 Creates Telemedicine ActSponsors: Sen. Cecile Bledsoe Rep. Deborah Ferguson (D-West Memphis)

What the bill doesRequires coverage for healthcare services delivered through telemedicine on the same basis that in-person services are covered.Does not recognize APRNs or other allied health professionals as able to be reimbursed for covered services under the Act.

ARNA opposed to current exclusionary language

HB 1395The American Diabetes Association has stated they will seek bill to allow school personnel to administer Insulin. Bill filed 2/17/15Senate bill in 2013; defeated in House Education committee.

ASNA and ARNA oppose

Act 414 of 2013Recognized the important role of the

school nurse and established the Public School Health Services

Committee2014 report presented to AR General

Assembly

More school nurses are needed!

AR Healthcare Independence Act of 2013 – ACT 1498

An expansion of Medicaid to ~ 250,000 Arkansans.

Allows the state to use Medicaid dollars to buy private insurance plans for low-income Arkansans.

Also called the “Private Option” and requires an annual ¾ majority vote from law makers to re-authorize funding.

ACT 1498ARKANSAS IMPACT100% of costs federally funded through 2015; AR assumes a share starting in 2016; Maxes out at 10% in 2020 90% covered by the federal government

ACT 1498 provides

Subsidies for health coverage to an estimated 200,000 Arkansans earning 139–400 percent of FPL, and

Approximately 250,000 Arkansans earning up to 138 percent of the FPL are eligible for the Medicaid “private option.”

Gov. Hutchinson’s plan SB 96 Arkansas Health Reform Act of 2015 (Sen. Hendren, R-Gravette)

Keeps private option through 2016 Forms a bipartisan legislative task force

to consider alternatives.

Progress of Arkansas Health Reform Act of 2015 – SB 96

Passed Senate PH Jan. 28Passed Senate Jan. 29Passed House PH Feb.3

Passed House Feb. 5Governor has signed

Bills still out there which would:

1. Repeal the private option; terminate program prior to Dec. 2016

2. No form of Medicaid expansion further considered

Failed in Committee: SB 144 Sen.

Collins- Smith HB 1181 Rep.

Copeland

Filed, not heard yet:SB 178 Sen. ClarkHB 1262 Rep. Miller

Ways YOU can help us!Send email to arnagrassroots@gmail.comBecome knowledgeable of the issues.Become a key contact for your legislators

regarding healthcare issuesRespond ASAP when an alert is sent out

by ARNA Health PolicyCome to the Capitol; meet the legislatorsAttend a committee hearingEnlist the help of your nurse colleagues

Together we can make it happen!For more information and updates, visit:

Arkansas Nurses Associationwww.arna.org

Contact:arnagrassroots@gmail.com