Action Alert: CALL House Health & Welfare Committee Members

We have received word that the physicians are 'flooding' the phone lines this weekend.

We are asking that you contact members of the House Health & Welfare Committee.  We have already asked the constituents of these legislators to contact their Representative.  But now, we are asking all members to reach out to committee members in support of SB 187.

This is the link to the committee members' contact information: http://house.louisiana.gov/H_Cmtes/HealthAndWelfare.aspx

Please CALL using the pre-written message below as a guide but personalize your message.

My name is ____________.  I am a nurse practitioner.  I am calling to ask for your support of Senate Bill 187 presented by Senator Barrow.

Currently, in your region, I care for approximately __________ patients/constituents per week. This leads to approximately a total of _____________ per year.

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 simply allows experienced nurse practitioners the option to practice without this formal written contract.

The removal of the CPA does NOT mean that nurse practitioners will stop collaborating. We will continue to coordinate care with physicians and other health care providers based on the individual needs of our patients and their families.

Contrary to what you may have heard 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.

The National Council of State Boards of Nursing and the Institute of Medicine advocate the nursing profession regulate nursing. There was a committee that was comprised of the board of medicine, board of nursing and the board of pharmacy that placed the collaborative practice agreement and the oversight of advanced practice nurses into the hands of the board of nursing over two decades ago.

22 states including the District of Columbia have modernized their health care laws and removed barriers to nurse practitioner care.

Louisiana currently ranks 50th in overall health.  Now more than ever our state needs to embrace innovation.  Louisiana won't be the first state to remove collaborative agreements, but today, I ask that you support SB 187 so our state won't be the last!

Can I count on your support of SB 187?

**Please be courteous and thank them for their time and consideration of our bill**