Grassroots Advocates Gather in Sacramento to Make the Case for Full Practice Authority

Spurred in part by the opportunity to make the case for Senate Bill 323, more than 160 nurse practitioners and other health care advocates from across the state gathered in Sacramento on May 19 for CANP Lobby Day 15.

“Your presence here tells me that you are well aware of just what a critical year this is for nurse practitioners in California,” CANP President Donna Emanuele told attendees, “Senate Bill 323 presents a monumental opportunity for all of us.  It’s an opportunity that must be seized, and it’s our chance to be the difference in the pursuit of full practice authority.”

Lobby Day participants combined for 112 office visits with legislators and their staff members during the afternoon. But before they headed to the State Capitol, attendees were briefed on effective lobbying tactics and other legislation prominent on CANP’s radar this legislative session. They also learned from a panel of experts about how to impact legislation via social media, and heard from Senator Ed Hernandez and Assemblymember Susan Eggman, the co-authors of Senate Bill 323, about the challenges that lie ahead in advancing the bill, and the role NPs must play in overcoming those challenges.

While Senate Bill 323 was the centerpiece of the event, CANP Legislative Advocate Kristy Wiese discussed two other significant bills supported by the Association – SB 277 (Pan, Allen), which would eliminate the personal belief exemption from the requirement that children receive vaccines for certain infectious diseases prior to being admitted to any public or private elementary or secondary school or day care center; and Assembly Bill 637 (Campos), which would permit NPs and Physician’s Assistants to sign a “Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment” (POLST) form.

Moderated by CANP Executive Director Rob Finley, the social media panel featured Leidhra Johnson, Vice President of Uptown Studios (CANP’s social media partner); Brian Warren, Vice President of the California Pharmacists Association; Mitch Zak, Partner and Co-Founder of  Randle Communications; and Sara Marlow, a prolific social media communicator best known to her nearly 8,000 Twitter followers as “@MissFNP.”  The panel touted social media as an impactful and cost-effective means for engaging in legislative advocacy and recounted successful campaigns and tactics for advancing the online conversation.

In stressing the importance of ongoing engagement, Zak remarked that “Every day is Lobby Day.”  The comment became a rallying cry for attendees as they look to build on the day’s momentum through continuing outreach efforts in their local communities.

With SB 323 having passed the full Senate 12 days earlier, Hernandez and Eggman noted that, while opponents of the measure can be expected to intensify their efforts as the bill is considered in the Assembly, full practice authority for nurse practitioners continues to gain momentum across the nation, and mounting evidence supports California joining the ranks of those states that have enacted similar legislation.

“It’s been two years since SB 491 (a similar measure authored by Hernandez in 2013 that stalled in the Assembly),” said Eggman, “and we’ve now seen what we warned about then with regard to the influx of new patients and the increasing demands for services.”

“For what they're trained to do, NPs provide as good – if not better – service than MDs,” said Hernandez.  “When Arizona passed full practice authority legislation, there was a flood of NPs to the state, with more and more of them going to practice in rural areas where increased access to primary care services is so critical.”

The Lobby Day program also included the announcement of Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins as the recipient of CANP’s 2014 Nurse Practitioner Advocate of the Year award.  With the Speaker unable to attend the event, Assemblymember Eggman accepted the award on her behalf.

In addition, attendees combined to generate $6,500 in donations to CANP’s Political Action Committee (PAC).  In a drawing held in conjunction with PAC fundraising, Laurie Umeh claimed a prize of $650, which she then donated back to the PAC.

Delegates Make Quick Work of Annual HOD Agenda

Many Lobby Day participants were on hand the day before to take part in the annual meeting of CANP’s House of Delegates (HOD), the legislative and policy-making body of the Association.   In all, 96 delegates representing 18 CANP chapters were present.

Just two resolutions were under consideration this year.  The delegates ratified a proposal to change the deadline for approval of CANP’s annual budget to 30 days prior to the end of the fiscal year.  Previously, CANP bylaws established the deadline at 60 days prior.  A proposal to conduct the annual HOD meeting every two years, rather than every year, was defeated.