National Legislation Action Alert-June 2010

The American College of Nurse Practitioners (ACNP) is asking for our help in the effort to get legislation passed that will recognize and authorize nurse practitioners to order home health care under Medicare for our patients. As many of you know, this has been a significant limitation on our practice and our ability to provide appropriate care for our patients.

Please support H.R.4993/S.2814, the Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act of 2010 introduced by Representative Allyson Schwartz in the House of Representatives and Senator Susan Collins in the Senate. This bill recognizes and authorizes nurse practitioners as eligible health care professionals who can order home health services under Medicare, ensuring that Medicare patients requiring these services receive optimal continuity of care. Representative Schwartz (PA) and Senator Collins (ME) have taken the initial step by introducing this bill.

Now we all need to urge our Representatives and Senators to support and co-sponsor this legislation. Representative Schwartz has a goal of 100 co-sponsors by the end of summer (currently there are 50). If you do not know who your Representative and Senators are, please visit www.house.gov and www.senate.gov respectively.

Click here for a sample letter to send your Representative and Senator. Click here to view the NP Roundtable letter on this issue. Please act now! This is a crucial issue for NPs.

NMNPC Annual Conference - Caring for New Mexico Handouts Available for Registered Attendees

The NMNPC 2010 Annual Conference held in Albuquerque from April 21-23, was a great success. Over 80 attendees earned continuing education credits and networked with other NPs from around New Mexico. All handouts provided by the presenters are available for download for registered attendees. Go to Caring for New Mexico to download the handouts.

Membership in NMNPC

Strong representation for nurse practitioners in New Mexico is dependent on having a solid membership base. By joining NMNPC, New Mexico's NPs provide support to the only state-wide NP organization that works for all NPs to maintain a favorable practice environment, allowing us to effectively advocate for our patients. Membership is for a calendar year, beginning the day you join. For information on becoming a member or renewing your current membership, click here.

Current Information

Go to the Members Only page for current news and information. This is the best way to keep up to date on issues affecting NPs, our patients, and our practices.

Legislative and Policy Issues

NMNPC contracts with a legislative lobbyist to provide services important to all nurse practitioners in New Mexico. Whether or not you're a member of NMNPC, please make a donation to help support this effort today. Visit our Legislative and Policy Issues page for more information on current issues of interest to NPs.

Formulary

NMNPC developed a generic formulary that NPs may customize to their specific practice and submit to the Board of Nursing when applying for licensure in New Mexico.

Forums

Any site visitor may review forum topics, but only members and non-member NPs may post comments or discussion to a forum topic. For more information about forums and how to login to participate, click here.

New Mexico Licensure

The New Mexico State Board of Nursing regulates nurse practitioner licensure. Visit the licensure page for information about becoming licensed as a nurse practitioner in New Mexico.

Career Center