Legislative Information

Posted 9/22/08

Legislative Updates: The legislative races are on! Currently there are several incumbents who are seeking election who have demonstrated significant support of issues related to Nurses/Nurse Practitioners. In addition, there have been several candidates who have strongly opposed any and all legislation that would advance the practices of NPs around the state. These candidates receive significant political support from the Florida Medical Association and have been steadfast in their decisions not to consider legislation that might reduce the burden of access to care by recognizing Nurse Practitioners for their ability to impact Florida’s health care today. For a full list of candidates that are recommended to support, please email us at floridanpnetwork@gmail.com. Several of the organizations around the state have held “Meet & Greets” where politicians are invited to the home of an NP to allow other APNs to get to know the political issues without the intimidation of going to an office. These have been incredibly well received and very successful in making our voices heard. We encourage every group member to consider holding this type of function and allowing members to become more politically active without the challenge of being “on the spot” alone. The following is a set of tips provided by our CapWiz site that helps you to assure your meeting with legislators is not only successful, but reminds them of the power you possess! Did you know that on average, less than 50% of all Florida NPs belong to a professional group such as the Florida NP Network or the Florida Nurses Association? Without support on a regular basis, you may not be informed of the changes that occur in legislation until it is too late! Our memberships are kept abreast of all changes that could and will impact your practice. We must be the voice of support to those who do not recognize this need. Tell a friend and join today!!!! Please tell a colleague the importance of belonging to FNPN. Florida now remains only one of TWO states without prescriptive authority for controlled substances and with more budget cuts on the horizon for healthcare, we must be afforded the ability to practice to the maximum that our educational skills have prepared us for. Especially important are our efforts to increase the accessibility to health care and the clarification of practice issues that may make your life a little easier! Please visit your legislators if you have not already done so and help us to bring awareness to your profession. Our Vice President for Legislative Affairs, Elizabeth Markovich (elizabeth.markovich@gmail.com) works very hard to keep us abreast of what is happening!