CALL TO ACTION: Communicate with Senators to support Senate Substitute HB 2279 (previously SB 454)

Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee passes APRN Legislation

Feb 21, 2022 

Supportive testimony given by Nicole Livanos, NCSBN, stressed  that the benefit of legislation is increased access to health care, and that practice without a physician-signed agreement already occurs in the Kansas VA system, military clinics and hospitals and Indian Health Service as well as the 24 states who have passed similar legislation. Opposing testimony given by Rochelle Columbo, Kansas Medical Society stressed that KMS is still willing to meet to negotiate an agreement, and still pressed that APRNs need physician supervision. Committee members questioned the speakers clarifying APRNs scope of practice; the history of negotiations and regulation of APRNs. Chairman Hildebrand led the committee to act on the bill, following two added amendments. APRNs shall not engage in procedures of abortion or prescribe medications for abortion. A technical amendment to clarify that APRNs will prescribe controlled substances per DEA regulations. The final vote was supportive, with one negative vote.

The Committee voted to insert SB 454 into HB 2279, renaming the bill Senate Substitute HB 2279. The bill progresses to the Senate with expectations that the bill will be heard either Wednesday or Thursday Feb. 23, or 24, 2022.

• CALL TO ACTION-
• Email or call Senators ASAP (preferably Feb 22, or 23rd!) to support Senate Substitute HB 2279 APRN Legislation
• Compose your message or utilize the sample template letter and/or the talking points on KANP website https://kapn.enpnetwork.com/ click on the Legislative Tab, then 2022 Legislative Talking Points. Legislators prefer personal messages to read, but also, numbers of emails and communications are noted by legislators.
• AANP members : American Association of Nurse Practitioners® (AANP) members can now use this link to tell Kansas Senators to support this bill!
• Also, take the time to send a note of appreciation to:
  • Senator Hildebrand for leading the discussion of support of our bill
  • Supportive votes from committee members Senator Gossage, Senator Baumgardner, Senator Erickson, Senator O’Shea, Senator Steffan and Senator Petty
• Concentrate your efforts on these emails and messages in the next 1-2 days. Go to Kansas Legislature http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/chamber/senate/roster/ for the roster of Senators and their contact information

Keep the momentum going. Your support needs to be heard and read by our Legislators. This will take all our efforts to continue the success!