The Future of SB 263

Since SB 263 failed and was left in the Senate Education and Health Committee on February 16^th, we hope that the bill will be revisited and reevaluated next session. It might be beneficial to change the direction of the bill since the Board of Medicine is a very powerful organization and they are in opposition of SB 263. An advisory board should be created, but nurse practictioners may need to stay under the Board of Medicine. This bill will most likely not pass if the Board of Medicine doesn’t change their position.

Family practice physicians are the lowest paid physicians. The field of primary care is starving for physicians since most doctors are specializing in specific areas where they can receive higher pay. SB 263 would allow Nurse Practitioners to work as primary care providers and increase the size of the field. Supporters of the bill should continue promoting SB 263 by advocating this point and other benefits of the bill.

Political Action Plan Responses

R. Steven Landes’s legislative aid, Judy Wyatt, responded to our email in regards to SB 263. R. Steven Landes stated that he is aware that the bill was left in the Senate Education and Health, thereby killing it for the session. SB 263 never made it to the House Floor to be voted on. Although the session ended last week, his aide provided us with a link to track the 2010 legislation session online at http://legis.virginia.gov. We thank Judy Wyatt and R. Steven Landes for their response and information relating to SB 263.

Senator George Barker responded with gratitude for our inquiry regarding SB 263 and informed us that he is particularly supportive of nurse practitioners having the latitude and responsibility in the future. He did inform us that the bill was considered by the Senate and was declined. However, he also included that Senator Whipple may want to work on this issue during the rest of the year, and maybe reintroduce the bill next year. He will look carefully at any bill regarding this issue that may come to the Senate in the future. We thank Senator Barker for his support and kind response.

Mary Korving, Legislative Assistant to Senator Frederick M. Quayle responded to our email concerning SB 263. She said, “thank you for your e-mail. SB 263 was left in the Senate Education and Health Committee on February 16th, which means it has failed.” We were aware that SB 263 has failed for the year, however, we hope that by raising awareness and interest in this bill, it will pass in the next session.

Key stakeholders and legislators contacted

Stakeholders

Medical Society of Virginia (MSV): MSV has worked strongly and decisively against this bill. Concerning SB 263, MSV has stated that, “Such practice is not consistent with NPs level of the commonwealth.” Because MSV is a strong opposing force, it is vital for us to contact them and provide education about and support for the bill.

Legislators

Mary Margaret Whipple: Mary Margaret Whipple represents the 31st District in the Virginia State Senate. She is the chief Patron of SB 263 as well as the Chairman of the Education and Health committee. She is also involved in several other related committes. As the Chief Patron of this bill she is vital to gaining support for this bill and the passage from committee to the Senate and the House. She is also an advocate for several other bills that will improve the public’s access to health care.

R. Steven Landes: Delegate R. Steven Landes represents the 25th district of Virginia House of Representative. He is a member of several committees and subcommittees that are of interest to this bill. As Co-Patron of the SB 263 and a member of Education Committee, he will be of great importance to the passing of the bill. In the 12 years that Landes has served as a delegate, other committee members have come to rely on him to represent them on countless legislation.

Senate Education & Health Licensing Subcommittee Members: Virginia SB 263 has been assigned to the Senate Education & Health Licensing subcommittee. No decision was made about the bill and it has been left in Education and Health. The following are members of the subcommittee: Quayle (Chairman), Lucas, Martin, Barker, Northam. These members are key proponents and are essential to the future of SB 263. Since the bill will begin in this subcommittee next year, these members have to approve the bill before it can progress.

SB 263 Update

In the month of February, 2010 nurse practitioners presented their case for the passing of Virgnia Senate Bill 263 to a subcommittee of the Senate Education and Health Committee. Physicians also presented their case in opposition to SB 263. Unfortunately, the senators failed to make a motion for any action on the bill. Consequently, the bill has died for the year. Although there will be no further action for the passing of SB 263 during this year, we are still in full support for its passing in the future.

Political Action Plan and Key Stakeholders and Legislators

Political Action Plan:
-Contact key legislators listed below to increase their knowledge on this bill
-Distribute information to Medical Society of Virginia in an attempt to provide more education and support for the bill
-Contact the American College of Nurse Practitioners and the Virginia Council of Nurse
Practitioners to promote awareness of the bill
-Spreading the word electronically about our blog and increasing awareness of this bill by
educating our friends and family

Key Stakeholders:
-Board of Medicine
-Board of Nursing
-Medical Society of Virginia (MSV)
-Physicians
-Individual Nurse Practitioners
-Patients

Key Legislators:
-Senator Mary Margaret Whipple (D- 31st, Arlington) introduced SB 263
-Delegate R. Steven Landes is the House Patron
-Senate Education & Health Licensing Subcommittee Members: Quayle (Chairman), Lucas, Martin, Barker, Northam

We Support S.B. 263!

We are in support of S.B. 263. Senate bill 263 would move NPs solely under the Board of Nursing and create an advisory board of physicians, pharmacists, and nurse practitioners to advise the Board of Nursing. This would remove the requirement for physician supervision and would open up more access to care in some free clinics, rural clinics, and federally qualified health clinics that have been limited due to current statutes and regulations. A broader definition of the scope of NP practice would enable expansion of primary care services to better serve the healthcare needs of the nation. As nursing students, we believe this would positively impact individuals by providing more patient centered care, advice on self care and management and more preventative services leading to better patient satisfaction. In the article titled, “Nurse Practitioner: Reflecting on the Future” (2008) Health service researches have studied the effects of NPs as an alternate source of medical manpower and have found that “NPs have provided continuity of care, where care has previously been fragmented. NPs are generally well accepted by consumers and have provided a level of performance that compares favorably with physicians as judged by standards developed within the practice settings.” Senate Bill 263 could make Nurse Practitioners primary care more economically viable while devoting extra attention to patients whose insurance pays less leaving physicians free to see more patients who are commercially insured (Sherwood, Brown, Fay, & Wardell 1997).

Advocacy for Nurse Practitioner Clinics