State and Federal Legislative Updates and Call for Membership

Hello MN APRN Coalition Members and Interested Folks, 

I am writing to you today about three critical legislative issues, one at the state level and two at the federal level. 

State Update: 

As you likely know, we have been working diligently for a few years on the bill to remove the current statutory language requiring new graduate NPs and CNSs to work for 2080 hours in a practice environment with physicians and APRNs. The requirement not only has no basis in evidence for the need for such transition to practice hours, but is unfair to our APRN-owned and operated clinics, which cannot hire new graduates to fill provider vacancies. New graduate NPs and CNSs are also unfairly disadvantaged in their search for employment and the job market, as some health organizations refuse to hire new graduates due to this statute.  This year, the bill sponsored by the Minnesota APRN Coalition and Minnesota Nurse Practitioners moved the closest yet to a committee hearing. With strong bipartisan support in both the House and Senate, we were hopeful. However, in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, Vice Chair Senator Alice Mann raised concerns about the experience of the APRN who might mentor a new graduate if the statute were removed. We met with Senator Mann, who agreed that language ensuring an experienced APRN would be in place to mentor the new grade was accepted by all stakeholder parties.  However, Senator Mann raised issues about NP education at the last minute. Despite our assurances that NP education issues, including accreditation of NP programs, have national standards, and our commitment to meet with her to explore her concerns more fully in the interim sessions, she told us she could not move forward on the transition to practice statute bill.  Naturally, we are very disappointed but look forward to continued efforts in the next session to get this bill passed. We will likely come forward with the agreed-upon language next year, a policy-focused session. We continue to be hopeful for a successful passage in the next session. 

Federal Update: 

Many of you may have already heard the joint statement from the American Nurses Association, American Academy of Nursing, and the American Association of College of Nursing regarding a leaked federal plan for extensive restructuring at the Department of Health and Human Services and the National Institutes of Health, including elimination of the National Institute of Nursing Research. Additionally, although not officially stated, it was noted in the leaked budget that Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs, which provide scholarships, loan repayment, and educational grants to nurses, would be cut. The impacts of these cuts, if they occur, would be devastating and would undermine the healthcare system's ability to provide patient-centered, evidence-based care, potentially exacerbating the national nursing shortage and impacting patient outcomes. 

What you can do...

JOIN THE COALITION...DONATE TO THE COALITION...JOIN THE COALITION...DONATE TO THE COALITION...JOIN THE COALITION...DONATE TO THE COALITION

If you are not a current member, please join. Not only does our work to remove barriers make more impact when we are a collective voice, our work on behalf of Minnesota APRNS is dependent upon your volunteer leaders and having the fiscal resources to engage a knowledgeable lobbying firm to represent us and work on our behalf at the Capitol and with stakeholders. We are lucky to work with a lobbying firm that is knowledgeable about and committed to Minnesota APRNS. However, the cost of this ongoing representation is our single biggest expense.  Due to this ongoing cost, our ability to engage in this work is in jeopardy. The organization has undertaken multiple cost reduction strategies, but we may fall short of our needs for next year. We want to start the work for the next session this summer, but we need additional money.  Please consider joining or making a contribution to the Minnesota APRN Coalition. A QR code on the webpage makes it very easy to donate and help in these efforts. 

On the national issues, call your Federal Senators (Senator Amy Klobuchar or Senator Tina Smith) and your Representative in the House to express your concern over these possible cuts and changes. Be sure to identify yourself as a constituent from your city. An app called 5 Calls can help you with sample script and numbers to call for your representatives.  the app can be found at https://5calls.org/  

A sample message should be quick and to the point: 

Hello, my name is XXXX and I am a constituent from (your city). 

I am calling to urge (Senator Klobuchar, Senator Smith, or Representative XXXX) to vocally oppose the proposed HHS reorganization and the planned elimination of the National Institute of Nursing Research and the Cuts to the Title VIII Nursing Workforce programs. Nursing research improves patient care by providing evidence-based knowledge to guide best practice and enhancing nursing skills. These cuts will devastate research institutions, lead to layoffs, and jeopardize the scientific progress we need to drive health innovation, health advocacy, and economic growth. They will hinder patient-centered care and exacerbate the nursing shortage. 

Thank you for your time and consideration. 

If you leave a voicemail, please include your full street address to ensure your call is tallied. If you do not want to use an app like 5 Calls, many professional organizations also have policy advocacy centers that help you send letters of contact. Most, like the American Nurses Association, do not require you to be a member to use the advocacy center to send legislators messages. 

Please do not hesitate to contact us or your Legislative Director, Brian Goodroad at b_goodroad@msn.com if you have questions. Keep checking back for more updates from the Minnesota APRN Coalition.