Senate Bill 187

Update!! Adding Senator Luneau -- Just got word that he is considering opposing. Even if he is not in your voting district, but you see patients from his District -- Call! Email!

Senator Jay Luneau - luneauj@legis.la.gov or (318) 484-2288

If you call - Most of the time you have to leave a message - but they will very likely return your call.

If you haven't already, please contact your senator and ask them to vote FOR SB 187.

If you weren't at the Capitol Wednesday -- here are some things that the opposition is telling the Senators and Representatives.

• A. Malpractice suits against NPs will increase and Safety rates will decrease if NP's do not have physician "oversight".
  
  
• B. That if we want to practice "medicine" that we should have to answer to the medical board and not the nursing board.
  
  
• C. We are "out there practicing medicine" without enough "education and training" and that this "practicing advanced registered nursing" is just a cover up name for practicing medicine.
  
  
• D. It is not hard to find collaborating physicians and most really do not charge that much and if they do it is because their malpractice insurance goes up for collaborating with us and because of the amount of hours they have to put in to "oversee" us.

Some things to remind them......But be specific in YOUR story. Even if you still have a "business agreement" with a physician afterwards -- wouldn't it be nice to NOT have to navigate the logistical nightmare of board approval? 

In the state of Louisiana nurse practitioners must enter into a business contract called a collaborative practice agreement (CPA) with physicians to in order to provide healthcare. These agreements are often costly and logistically burdensome. This legislation allows experienced nurse practitioners the option to practice without this formal written contract. SB 187 would NOT expand nurse practitioners' scope of practice. The care provided by nurse practitioners today will be the same exact safe, affordable quality care they will provide tomorrow when the contract barrier is removed. 22 states including the District of Columbia have modernized their health care laws and removed barriers to nurse practitioner care.

Research reveals these states experienced:

• Decreased emergency room visits
• Increased healthcare access for residents
• Reduced hospitalizations and readmissions
• Increase in nurse practitioners shifting healthcare to needy locations

Two of the Senators for the Central Louisiana Region are (but be sure and look them up for your area AND for the constituents you serve if different from your voting district).

Senator Riser (currently opposed)
risern@legis.la.gov or call (866) 513-8699

Senator Long
longg@legis.la.gov or call (800) 265-2437

Not a bad idea to post on your facebook page and ask your patients to contact them :)!

Thanks! Kathy