Category Archives: All News

HB 793 – Frequently Asked Questions

March 8, 2018General NewsChristine Heubusch

HB 793 passed in the General Assembly and was signed by Governor Northam!

We have composed a Frequently Asked Questions document to address inquiries we have received from both members and non-members. The document explains how the legislation will take effect, clarifies what attestation entails, and describes how experienced NPs can be “grandfathered” in. The document may be found below:

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The next steps involve the Department of Health Professions (including the Boards of Nursing and Medicine) promulgating the regulations for how this bill will be implemented. As this process unfolds, you may have questions about what this bill might mean for you and your practice. Let us know your questions! Click Here to ask a question about HB793.

The Latest on HB 793

February 27, 2018General NewsChristine Heubusch

We have reviewed the letter distributed today by AANP and appreciate their acknowledgment of the difficult legislative landscape of the Commonwealth of Virginia. We wanted to take an opportunity to clarify for our members a few points that were addressed.

First, it is important to note that a lot of states would value the opportunity to transition to practice without requirement for a practice agreement. Once the bill is passed and the attestation process is completed, more than 50 percent of our members will have the ability to practice without a collaborative agreement.

Regarding AANP’s mention of our current bill: it’s important to note that we are working from a new substitute bill that reduces the restrictive language that was initially introduced during the first House sub-committee meeting.

While the legislation does retain physician-led team language during the collaborative period and the joint regulatory oversight of the Boards of Medicine and Nursing, this was a trade-off we needed to make in order to achieve transition to practice language.

Please note that we are working on a question and answer document (FAQ) to clarify any and all potential questions and hope to have it completed within the next few days. We will follow up with an email when that is finished. This document will also be housed on CareforVA.com.

We appreciate all the questions and encouragement that we have received. As AANP noted, this is a difficult process and we are doing everything we can to ensure that legislation is in the best interest of all NPs in Virginia. This is why the VCNP executive committee, all regional presidents, and the regional government relations chairs held an emergency conference call last Wednesday to discuss our new substitute bill and to vote on if they wanted Del. Roxann Robinson to move forward. Nine members of the executive committee and 12 regional presidents all voted unanimously to move forward with the substitute.

We will continue to work on your behalf and keep you informed of any changes.

New HB 793 “Substitute Bill” Passed by Senate Committee

February 22, 2018General NewsChristine Heubusch

Today, the Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioners – along with Del. Roxann Robinson, the patron of HB 793 – generated a huge legislative win that will move nurse practitioners in Virginia closer to obtaining Full Practice Authority.

During the Virginia Senate Education and Health Committee’s reading of HB 793, Del. Robinson introduced a new “substitute” bill that removed many of the overbearing restrictions in the original bill that opponents had wanted to impose on NPs. The substitute was unanimously approved by the committee in a 15-0 vote.

The new substitute bill goes a long way to reduce the restrictions that would have been imposed by the original House subcommittee substitute of HB 793, but it does retain the five-year transition to practice requirement. With this being a top concern for members, VCNP’s Executive Committee, all Regional Presidents, and regional Government Relations chairs, held an emergency conference call Wednesday night to discuss the new substitute bill and to vote on if they wanted Del. Robinson to move forward with it. Nine members of the Executive Committee and 12 Regional Presidents all voted unanimously to move forward with the substitute.

Mark Coles of the Tidewater region noted before the vote: “Virginia is a state where legislative progress is only made incrementally. We might be an outlier with a five-year transition to practice, but there are more than 20 other states around the country that would love to be in the place where we are right now. Full practice authority is within reach.”

It is important for all members to understand that, with the new substitute bill, more than 50 percent of NPs in Virginia have already met the five-year transition to practice requirement. Once the substitute bill is approved by the entire Senate, it will return to the House floor for another vote. Should it pass again and be signed by the Governor, rules will be promulgated by January 1, 2019 and NPs will be eligible to move forward with authority to practice without requirement of a collaborative agreement.

VCNP President Chris Daley noted to everyone on last night’s call that we are pledged to transparency throughout this process. If you have questions or concerns, please contact your Regional President or Government Relations chair. It is the goal of the VCNP Board to ensure that everyone is comfortable with this process.

HB 793 will be voted on by the full Senate in the upcoming days. Please stay tuned for additional details on our progress.

Fredericksburg Region meeting minutes 2/12/18

February 16, 2018News - FredericksburgMeeting MinutesFredericksburg

HB793 bill passed the committee, subcommittee and house. Discussion was regarding physician attestation in the area of your licensure, your plan for referrals, It is a complex plan that includes 10,000 hours for full practice, you must prove malpractice insurance. Discussion about licensure vs certification.

Most feel it is a “good step” toward full scope of practice, working toward a less restrictive bill to get through the senate which should be completed in about 3 weeks.

VCNP hired Wendy Carlson, attorney from Maryland to represent us.

The VNA is supportive.

The Department of Health Professions has some say in this as well.

CareforVA.com is a website that spells out the bill and contact information for NPs to contact their legislators. It includes information on what an NP does and is paid for and sponsored by the VCNP.

March 8-11 VCNP conference in Reston. We will need to put together a basket for the raffle. usually about $150.

__Our present philanthropy project is providing socks for the homeless shelter.

We’ll discuss Treasure House, Micah café scholarship, Mental Health America, Safe Harbor, Senior Visitors, all as possible future philanthropy projects.

One time per year membership is in effect.

We presently have 74 members.

Next meeting is 3/12/18 at Brocks.

Submitted 2/16/18 JPSF

HB 793 Update: Contact Senate Education and Health Committee Members NOW!

February 16, 2018General News, UncategorizedAmy

Contact the Senate Education and Health Committee Members now! It is possible that HB 793 could be heard as early as Tuesday, February 20. This is the stage, with the Senate Sub-Committee and full Senate Committee, at which we will be proposing amendments to HB 793. We want you to know and trust that we will not let Virginia be an outlier. We have the commitment of our patron that we will not move forward with the bill if it remains in its current form.

Tell the Committee members that you support HB 793!

Chairman Newman – district23@senate.virginia.gov – 804-698-7523

Richard Saslaw – district35@senate.virginia.gov – 804-698-7535

Louis Lucas – district18@senate.virginia.gov – 804-698-7518

Janet Howell – district32@senate.virginia.gov – 804-698-7532

Mamie Locke – district02@senate.virginia.gov – 804-698-7502

George Barker – district39@senate.virginia.gov – 804-698-7539

Richard Black – district13@senate.virginia.gov – 804-698-7513

Charles Carrico – district40@senate.virginia.gov – 804-698-7540

Chapman Peterson –district34@senate.virginia.gov– 804-698-7534

John A. Cosgrove – district14@senate.virginia.gov – 804-698-7514

Lynwood Lewis – district06@senate.virginia.gov – 804-698-7506

Siobhan S. Dunnavant –district12@senate.virginia.gov – 804-698-7512

Amanda Chase – district11@senate.virginia.gov – 804-698-7511

David Suetterlein – district19@senate.virginia.gov – 804-698-7519

Mark J. Peake – district22@senate.virginia.gov – 804-698-7522

We are actively working on changing and adding to the legislation to best fit the needs of Virginia NPs. This includes the following key points:

A reduction in hours requirements for the Transition to Practice program. This is a top priority for VCNP and its membership. We are working to educate our Senators that five full years of clinical experience requirements is excessive and has not been proven as a barometer for safe practice.
Attestation will be a standardized form created by DHP with provisions for exceptions for NPs who may not be able to obtain the physician signature; for example, circumstances due to physician death.
There is no provision for grandfathering NPs; however, existing experience will count towards years of experience qualifying for the transition time period. All eligible NPs will need to submit an attestation form to DHP to be able to practice unencumbered by the practice agreement requirement.
Endorsement of NPs from other states will be considered under regulations with provisions for NPs from out of state to meet equivalent time requirements attested by a physician or other entity if the physician’s signature cannot be obtained.
Removal of APRN titling because the definition excludes those early NPs whose educational programs granted certificates and not a master’s degree.
Removal of redundant language from regulations restating provisions for periodic review of records, including site visits.
Removal of language that NPs must have graduated from an educational program accredited by Commission on Collegiate Education, as this requirement has been met by virtue of licensure.
Collaboration will be defined as to the degree of cooperation necessary to provide treatment and the collaboration is with MDs and other health care providers.
Removal of language that NPs practice medicine.

As we are working on amendments, we still need your support! Submit letters via the CareforVA.com website and rally with your colleagues to continue to support HB 793.

American Academy of Nursing Supports Eliminating Barriers to Practice for NPs

January 22, 2018General NewsChristine Heubusch

The American Academy of Nursing has announced their official position on Full Practice Authority for Advanced Practiced Registered Nurses (APRNs). The Academy declares, “Lack of full practice authority for APRNs is a barrier to the provision of efficient, cost-effective, high-quality, and comprehensive health care services for some of the nation’s most vulnerable populations”. The statement cites the improvements in care that states with Full Practice Authority have experienced and makes suggestions at the state and federal level for lowering barriers to practice. Read the full statement below.

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HB793 News Release

January 12, 2018General NewsChristine Heubusch

VCNP is thrilled to announce HB793 – a bill designed to lower barriers to practice in Virginia and expand access to care. The bill permits Nurse Practitioners to practice without a collaborative agreement after a Transition to Practice period of 1,040 hours, which may be supervised by either a NP or physician. The bill will be presented to the Virginia House of Delegates by its sponsor, Del. Roxann Robinson (R-Chesterfield). You may read the bill in its entirety by clicking here. Below is the official press release announcing the proposed legislation:

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Governor McAuliffe Issues Proclamation for NP Week 2017

November 14, 2017General NewsAmy

Governor McAuliffe issued a Proclamation recognizing November 12–18, 2017 as NP Week in Virginia. The full text is included below; you may also view it at https://governor.virginia.gov/newsroom/proclamations/proclamation/2017-nurse-practitioner-week/

2017 Nurse Practitioner Week

11/12/2017

WHEREAS, nurse practitioners (NPs) are advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) who have advanced clinical education and training building upon their initial registered nurse preparation; and

WHEREAS, NPs serve as trusted frontline providers of healthcare for patients in our state; and

WHEREAS, there are 234,000 licensed nurse practitioners in the United States, and more than 9,700 NPs in Virginia providing primary, acute, and specialty care to patients of all ages and walks of life; and

WHEREAS, NPs diagnose, treat, and prescribe medications and other treatments to patients through a caring, patient-centered, holistic model of care; and

WHEREAS, citizens have great trust in the high-quality care NPs provide, resulting in more than one billion patient visits annually to NPs across the country; and

WHEREAS, five decades of research demonstrates the high quality of care provided by NPs; and

WHEREAS, utilization of NPs promotes a more accessible, efficient, cost-effective, and higher quality health care system; and

WHEREAS, Virginia is proud to recognize and honor the service of NPs to our Commonwealth;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Terence R. McAuliffe, do hereby recognize November 12-18, 2017, as NURSE PRACTITIONER WEEK in our COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.

Shenandoah Region General Meeting Minutes-November 2017

November 14, 2017News - ShenandoahShenandoah

VCNP-Shenandoah Region

November Meeting Minutes

November 9, 2017

Members in attendance: Cinor Fattahi, Ruth Holmaas, Tracy Seefried, Erin Morris, Sue Klassen, Diana Oddenino, Maretta Yoder, Monica Heck, Barbara Call, Susan Adamson

Meeting Location: Taste of Thai Restaurant, Harrisonburg VA.

Meeting Topic: Family Based Treatment for Adolescents with Eating Disorders. Speaker: Sue Klassen

Business Meeting:

1. Minutes from the September 2017 meeting were approved.

2. Members introduced themselves.

3. Susan Adamson, Membership Chair, announced that we currently have 69 members in the Shenandoah region, which is down about 10 members from last year this time.

4. Susan Adamson announced that she would need to step down as Membership Chair. This position requires 4-5 telephone meetings per year and these calls have moved to Wednesday nights, which doesn’t work with her schedule. In addition, it requires sending out reminders to local nurse practitioners if there membership drops. Monica Heck has graciously agreed to take over as membership chair.

5. President, Erin Morris reminded us that Ambi Zeller-Hahn is stepping down from her position on the legislative committee, effective January 1, 2018. This next year is going to be the biggest legislative push in the past decade for full independent practice. We are looking for a member to take on this committee position.

6. Erin Morris also informed us that there are legislative packets available if we visit any of our legislatures- the state organization wants to know who we are visiting. Members were encouraged to see Erin Morris if they had questions or wanted to receive packets.

7. Ms. Morris also reminded members that if there are exciting things happening in our places of employment or in our region to let her know so that this can be highlighted in the State newsletter.

8. Erin also mentioned that our region does not currently have any signage. These signs are helpful to put out at restaurants or local events. There was unanimous agreement to pursue purchasing a sign. Erin Morris will look into the cost.

9. Erin announced that if anyone is interested in running for state elections to let her know. The state board is always looking for more candidates.

10. Next meetings tentatively planned for February 15, 2018 and April 19, 2018. Maretta Yoder will work on speaker and venue.

The meeting was then adjourned.

Respectively submitted.

Maretta Yoder, Secretary

Sen. Warner Thanks NPs for Their Service

November 14, 2017General NewsChristine Heubusch

We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Senator Mark Warner for his support of Virginia nurse practitioners and his commitment to helping us celebrate National Nurse Practitioners Week.

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