AB 890 Signed into Law

CANP Members –

We did it! After decades of work, and despite opposition from one of the state’s most powerful lobbies, the California Association for Nurse Practitioners (CANP) prevailed in the passage of legislation that allows NPs to work without physician supervision. This represents our organization’s greatest victory since our founding in 1977.

AB 890, signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newson on Sept. 29, represents important progress toward removing restrictions on our practice which have long served to hamper access to care for some of the most vulnerable Californians. It happened in the midst of a global pandemic infecting millions, killing thousands, and leaving many to fend for themselves, in part because of the limitations placed on qualified providers of health care.

Authored by Assembly member Jim Wood (D-Santa Rosa), AB 890 allows a majority of California NPs to work without physician supervision. Provisions of the bill move California NPs toward joining 22 other states, including every state in the West, to enjoy this hard-earned privilege. 

There is much left to do in the coming months and years to understand and implement these changes. I would like to take this moment to acknowledge the incredibly hard work of many, many people and organizations that led us to this successful and historic outcome.

First, though, it’s important to consider how monumental a victory this is given that every other time NPs have brought forth a bill to enact some form of full-scope practice it has been defeated. Organized medicine has used its formidable and influential lobbying machines to crush our movement. Each defeat forced us to dig deeper to understand our weaknesses and required changes, including the need to build a powerful and diverse coalition of organizations and other health care stakeholders. One important milestone in the process began over a decade ago when we hired management and lobbying firms capable of building and protecting our association and brand. These partnerships helped us standardize our foundation, messaging, and brand and enabled us to enact formal affiliation agreements with our chapters around the state. Their efforts collectively laid the groundwork for our success in taking on our toughest opponents and passing the legislation.

I want to give credit to the extraordinary efforts of our management firm Shaw Yoder Antwih Schmelzer & Lange for championing our organization and providing expert oversight and guidance each step of the way. In particular, the decision (on the recommendation of Executive Director, Rob Finley) to engage Meghan Callahan and Madison Nagle of Callahan Public Affairs to build an incredible coalition entitled Close the Provider Gap which consisted of over 80 health care partners made all the difference in the passage of the bill. Additionally, our press consultant, Andrew Acosta, who led our press efforts, generated dozens of positive stories about nurse practitioners, including the endorsement of all major California newspapers in support of AB 890. These efforts certainly caught the attention of legislators who witnessed a constant drumbeat of positive media about nurse practitioners.

A very special thank you goes to Capitol Advocacy and CANP’s longtime lobbyist Kristy Wiese, who has represented CANP with indefatigable grace, even-keeled consistency, grit, and determination to drive our success at the Capitol. Kristy was the indomitable force in positioning the bill in a manner that led to no significant legislative opposition and navigating the efforts in the Capitol with our coalition members, CANP leadership, and others. Kristy really made AB 890’s passage a reality.

Others I cannot fail to mention here are Susanne Johnson Phillips, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, FAANP, FAAN, and Garrett K. Chan, PhD, RN, APRN, FAEN, FPCN, FCNS, FNAP, FAAN, president and CEO of HealthImpact.  Susie, a past president of the California Board of Registered Nursing and professor at the UC Irvine Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing, deserves special recognition for her deep policy expertise and involvement at every step of this fight over the past 25 years. Garrett has provided us with ongoing expert and technical guidance and strategic workforce and policy expertise. CANP has acknowledged their invaluable assistance by giving substantial contributions to HealthImpact and to the UCI School of Nursing Scholarship Fund in their honor. In addition, we sent Garrett a succulent arrangement, and flowers to Susie. I gratefully honor them here.

We also cannot fail to recognize the steadfast support of Assembly member Wood, who drafted AB 890 and was its champion to the end. A dentist, Assembly member Wood comes from a rural district and understands firsthand the difficulties residents have in accessing care. Opponents could not dismiss Assembly member Wood’s dedicated focus on building individual relationships across the aisle and crafting compromises that ultimately prevailed. I also wish to acknowledge Governor Gavin Newsom, who signed the bill.

Finally, I want to express my gratitude to all of you, our members and most valuable advocates, whose work caring for patients is at the heart of our mission. As we move into the next phase of AB 890 implementation, I want to assure you that we remain committed to helping all of our members navigate the complexities of these changes in order to continue our progress toward full practice authority for the benefit of Californians. A new Overview of AB 890 has been compiled and posted on the CANP website. Also, you should have received an invitation to join us for an AB 890 Town Hall meeting on Thursday, November 12, 2020, for a chance to hear directly from leadership and a panel of experts.

In closing, I also want to let you know that Karen Ayers, our association’s VP of Finance, has graciously stepped up to Chair CANP’s newly formed Health Justice Work Group. It is my firm belief that we must thoughtfully and purposefully engage these important issues. The committee is just now starting to organize and welcomes input and feedback. Please don’t hesitate to contact Karen at kayers@humboldtipa.com with any issues you would like to bring to the committee’s attention.