IMMEDIATE ACTION NEEDED - VOTE SCHEDULED FOR 1:15 TODAY. PLEASE CONTACT SENATORS ON THE PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATION COMMITTEE

Posted over 5 years ago by Derek Leffert

***IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY CONTACTED THE SENATORS LISTED BELOW, PLEASE CALL THEM IMMEDIATELY AND ASK THEM TO VOTE NO ON SB 942***

SB 942, the legislation prohibiting NP's from using the title "doctor" and eliminating your ability to perform routine surgical procedures is scheduled for a committee vote today at 1:15. The language contained in the bill as originally filed was problematic on a number of fronts, not the least of which was the ban on procedures that NP’s perform regularly which would then burden the remainder of the health care system if passed. Furthermore, a nurse practitioner’s license could be at risk for discipline if their company uses “Dr.” on advertisements for which they typically don’t have any input or control over.

Substitute language that just came out attempts to correct the surgical piece, but the language as written applies only to specific licenses (which APRN's do not currently have). As such, the language would limit your abilities to what you are permitted to do under your RN license rather than your APRN certificate. Additionally, the date listed in the new substitute language would create a period between August 28, 2020 and January 1, 2021 where you would be unable to perform routine "surgical" procedures.

***WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTACT THE FOLLOWING COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND ASK THEM TO VOTE NO ON SB 942 WHEN IT COMES UP FOR A VOTE THIS AFTERNOON***

The language contained in the substitute is STILL VERY MUCH UNACCEPTABLE. Please take a few minutes of your time to contact the following senators and express your opinion on the harmful affects of this bill before the committee meeting this afternoon.

Sen. Eric Burlison
573-751-1503
eric.burlison@senate.mo.gov

Sen. Lauren Arthur
573-751-5282
lauren.arthur@senate.mo.gov

Sen. Mike Cunningham
573-751-1882
mike.cunningham@senate.mo.gov

Sen. David Sater
573-751-1480
david.sater@senate.mo.gov

Sen. Scott Sifton
573-751-0220
scott.sifton@senate.mo.gov

Sen. Paul Wieland
573-751-1492
paul.wieland@senate.mo.gov

In your phone calls and emails, please focus on the following points of discussion:

- The bill will ban common procedures that NP’s practice daily (including biopsies, excisions, draining abcesses, cyst removal, suturing, wound care, etc) because the new language limits it to your license (which is currently a RN license). Banning these procedures will have a catastrophic affect on the health care system and patients as they will force patients into already crowded emergency rooms and place even greater burdens on the short supply of physicians

- Eliminating NP’s from practicing these procedures places an even greater burden on the patient financially, to travel, and possibly inhibits healing because of the likely delay in receiving treatment

- Disallowing these procedures could force clinic closures, particularly in the most rural areas
- “Doctor” is an academic degree, not a profession. Many NP’s with doctorates do not make advertising/marketing decisions and as such, their license shouldn’t be disciplined if they are inadvertently included on advertisements

YOUR calls are needed to help protect your patients and your profession. PLEASE CALL THE SENATORS LISTED ABOVE NO LATER THAN 1PM TODAY.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at nursepractitioners@missourinp.org or by phone at 573-280-8500.