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LEGISLATIVE CONNECTION a communication of the Iowa Nurses Association Volume 4, Number 5
TOP STORIES OF THE WEEK INA Priority RN/LPN Pronouncement of Death Discussions were held with the physician community about this bill and seeking agreement on the language included in the bill. While there is agreement on all the language in the bill except for the inclusion of the phrase in the Nurse Practice Act of "…and in accordance with physician directions". INA objects to the inclusion of this language in the practice act as being a phrase that is vague and could cause confusion should disciplinary action be taken against a nurse over pronouncement of a death. INA has agreed to limit the pronouncements to "anticipated deaths" in four settings with notice to the physician. House Study Bill 59 can be accessed at www.legis.state.ia.us for review. The bill on the website does not include the agreed to changes that are being drafted in an amendment. Rep. Betty Grundberg (R-Des Moines) is handling the bill and insists that INA and the physician community come to consensus before she will move the bill. She believes the bill is important and needed, but wants provider consensus. Please contact your legislator! Express your support for the bill without the inclusion of "… in accordance with the directions of the physician". Legislators ask what the phrase means and INA has been stating that the asking for a definition is the reason we seek to remove the phrase. Tell your own story to your state representative today! (See below for instructions on how to make contact.) Moms Off Meth Cheryll Jones, RN, ARNP, from Ottumwa, IA, and a panel of representatives from the Moms Off Meth group made a presentation to the House Human Resources Committee meeting this week. The Moms Off Meth support group started in July of 1999. The group is targeted for women who have substance abuse problems and may be in danger of losing their children. This group is not about recovery; it is about women helping women to find solutions to ALL their living problems. The focus of this group is empowerment. For further information, contact Women's Resource Center/Moms Off Meth, 101 South Market, Ottumwa, IA 52501, (641) 683-1750. Dr. Andreasen Recognized for National Medal of Honor On Tuesday, the House and Senate with resolutions HR 7 and SR 5, recognized the achievements of Dr. Nancy Coover Andreasen in receiving the President’s National Medal of Honor of Science for integrative work on mind, brain and behavior. Revenues are down $170 Million State revenues have grown $5.5 million through January 2001 for revenue growth of 0.2% instead of the estimated 3.5% growth and $178 million in revenues for the full year. The decrease in revenues could cause problems in the current fiscal year. Inheritance tax and corporate income tax revenues are down and only partially offset by the growth in personal income tax revenues. Sales tax revenues for the year show a slight growth, but do not reflect the proposed sales tax suspension. INA will continue to monitor for any impact on funding going to health care purposes. Speaker Siegrist said that he is concerned by the slowdown in state revenues, which are at 0.2% rather than the estimate of 3.5%. Siegrist said that the Legislature might need to look at making adjustments in areas other than education. He said that the Legislature will be prepared if the Revenue Estimating Committee issues a new estimate and the Governor comes out with a new budget based on a reduced revenue forecast. Siegrist said that budget targets should be in the next several weeks Tax Cuts Finished for the Year? Governor Vilsack said that the state cannot afford to make further tax cuts with the approval of HF 1, which suspends the sales tax on utilities for February and March of this year, and phases out the tax over five years, starting in 2002. Vilsack said that any further tax cuts will undermine the state’s ability to deliver services and that the Republicans should include the spending cuts that they will make if they approve further tax cuts. The Governor invited INA representatives into his office with others on Tuesday to discuss this budget concern. Speaker Siegrist said that Republicans intend to look over the budget carefully to see if the state can afford to exempt social security income from the personal income tax. (HF 2, in House Ways & Means, and SF 59, passed out by the Senate Ways & Means Committee). Senator McKibben, the chair of the Senate Ways & Means Committee, said that he believes that the state can find $50 million in a $5 billion budget to make these cuts. Rep. Van Fossen, the chair of the House Ways & Means Committee, said that he hopes to run some tax cuts that will spur economic development. He said he expects any Bush income tax cuts will help state revenue because of Iowa’s federal deductibility; if federal income taxes go down, Iowa income tax revenues. STATUS OF THE INA AGENDA
Appropriations Committees continue to meet. Money looks tight for future appropriations. House Study Bill 59 is being considered by the Subcommittee. MAKE CALLS TODAY! HF 200 has been introduced and assigned to an unfavorable committee, Commerce and Regulation. Other Bills on Issues on Watch: Mental Health & Substance Abuse Parity: House Files 107, 113 and 153 are in House Commerce. Senate File companions SF The INA Public Policy Committee has recommended support because of the broader coverage categories in them as compared to last year’s bills. Deanna McCallum and Linda Goeldner are the INA registered lobbyists. To learn more about the nursing agenda or nursing issues, call the INA office at 515/225-0495 or email either at DmcCall34@aol.com or Lkgoeld@aol.com. MAKING CONTACT Attend local town hall meetings on Saturdays as scheduled. Phone Numbers for leaving a message: Governor’s Office 515/281-5211 Iowa House of Representatives at 515/281-3221 Iowa Senate at 515/281-3371 Website Contacts for sending emails or regular letters: www.state.ia.us/governor/ On the "Office of Governor" page, go to "Desk Tops" on left side and hit "Comments", this brings up the "Comments Desk" and #3 is the email hot button. www.legis.state.ia.us On the "Welcome to the Iowa General Assembly" page, go to "Members", then "Find Your Legislator" and you can type in your street address, city and zip code to get to your Congressional and state senator and representative names, phone numbers and email addresses. BILLS PASSED OF INTEREST TO NURSING SCR 6 JOINT RULES - Establishes the rules for the Legislature during the 79th General Assembly. Moves the funnel weeks back by one week. Exempts bills related to an administrative rules suspension by the Administrative Rules Review Committee from the funnel deadline. ADOPTED by the House BILLS IN COMMITTEE OF INTEREST TO NURSING Use the website address above to find 1) the bill language and 2) the email address for the legislators listed below. Legislators serving on the following subcommittees are the individuals to whom comments should be initially made. Legislators give first priority to those living in their House or Senate District. Make sure the legislator knows you are a registered nurse. House Commerce: Assigned to Subcommittee: HF 107 NEUROBIOLOGICAL COVERAGE - Hansen (C), Seng, Shey HF 110 MEDICAL RECORDS - Jacobs (C), Seng, Van Fossen HF 113 STATE EMPLOYEE COVERAGE - Hansen (C), Schrader, Shey HF 152 DOMESTIC ABUSE INSURANCE CLAIM - Metcalf (C), Seng, Shey HF 153 NEUROBIOLOGICAL COVERAGE - Hansen (C), Osterhaus,, Shey Senate Education: Assigned to Subcommittee: SF 90 SCHOOL HEALTH BENEFIT COSTS - Boettger (C), Connolly, Tinsman Senate Human Resources: Recommended Passage: SSB 1023 MEDICAID COUNCIL REFERENCES - Updates references to organizations on the Medical Assistance Advisory Council. PASSED, 13-0 Floor manager: Holveck Assigned to Subcommittee: SF 78 FETAL DEATH CERTIFICATE - Tinsman (C), Holveck, Veenstra SF 85 CHILD ABUSE LEGISLATOR ACCESS - Schuerer (C), Behn, Harper SF 113 THERAPEUTIC MARIJUANA - Schuerer , Hammond, Veenstra BILLS INTRODUCED OF INTEREST TO NURSING House Study Bills: HSB 102 SUBSTANCE ABUSE COMMITMENTS (Judiciary) Allows for the involuntary commitments of individuals for substance abuse under certain circumstances. Grundberg (C), Eichhorn, Tremmel HSB 108 SALES TO NURSING HOMES (Ways & Means) Exempts the sale or rental of tangible personal property and service to licensed non-profit nursing homes from the sales tax. Excludes facilities for persons with mental retardation or illness. Hansen (C), Sievers, Jochum See SSB 1095 House Files: HF 170 ELDER ADVOCATE (Atteberry, et al.) Appropriates $90,000 from the general fund to the Department of Elder Affairs in assisting Resident Advocate Coordinators for training and volunteer members. (Appropriations) HF 171 ELDER DRUG ASSISTANCE (Osterhaus) Appropriates $5 million from the general fund to the Department of Elder Affairs for subsidized prescription drugs for residents over the age of 65 and on a limited income. (Human Resources) HF 178 DRUGS AND CHILD ABUSE (Human Resources; Successor to HSB 27) Defines having a child in the area where illegal substances are manufactured as "child abuse" for purposes of the child in need of assistance (CHINA) definition . (Calendar) HF 198 HEALTH CARE FINANCIAL INCENTIVES (Smith, et al.) Prohibits health care providers and managed care health plan from creating direct financial incentives to withhold medically necessary covered heath care services. Excludes financial incentives for efficient management. (Commerce) HF 200 MIDWIFE LICENSING (Mascher, et al.) Allows for licensing of certified professional midwifes. Requires the licensee to comply with the certification requirements of the North American Registry of Midwives, complete an apprenticeship or instructional course by the DPH and pass an examination by the Board of Certified Professional Midwife Examiners. Creates Board of Certified Professional Midwife Examiners. Contains other provisions. (Commerce) HF 201 SCHOOL STANDARDS (Mascher, et al.) Requires accredited non-public schools and school districts have a media center, media services specialist, a guidance counselor and program unless a waiver has been granted. Exempts the bill from the provisions of the unfunded state mandate law. (Education) HF 220 HEALTH RECORD FEES (Foege) Prohibits person holding a current or former patient’s health records from charging a fee if the record is to be used to establish a workers’ comp claim or other programs related to the Social Security Act. Allows for copying fees to be charged equal to the rate allowed by the Labor Commissioner in worker’s comp cases. Makes exceptions. (Commerce) Senate Study Bills: SSB 1079 DOCTORS HOSPITAL ORDERS (Human Resources) Directs the DIA to adopt rules regarding verbal orders in hospitals that are consistent with federal law and regulations. Bars the DIA from requiring that the orders be signed within a certain time unless the federal rules also have that requirement. SSB 1095 SALES TO NURSING HOMES (Ways & Means) Exempts the sale or rental of tangible personal property and service to licensed non-profit nursing homes from the sales tax. Excludes facilities for persons with mental retardation or illness. SSB 1120 MINOR HOSPITAL WORKERS (Business & Labor) Allows 14 and 15 year-olds to work as aides in hospitals, health care facilities and assisted living programs if the person receives training regarding exposure to biohazards. Allows persons under 18 to enroll in training programs for nurses, nursing assistants or aides and to be employed in those positions following the completion of the program. Schuerer (C), King, Hammond Senate Files: SF 114 MEDICAID COUNCIL REFERENCES (Human Resources; Successor to SSB 1023) Updates references to organizations on the Medical Assistance Advisory Council. Calendar: Floor Manager - Holveck SF 119 SUBSTANCE ABUSE COVERAGE (Connolly; Companion to HF 72) Requires policies for third-party payment of medical expenses to include coverage for alcohol and substance abuse under the same terms that other conditions are covered. (Commerce) SF 131 NEUROBIOLOGICAL COVERAGE (Tinsman) Requires that neurobiological disorders and substance abuse be covered under health insurance plans for state employees. Defines neurobiological disorders and substance abuse. Effective January 1, 2002. (Commerce) SF 132 NEUROBIOLOGICAL COVERAGE (Tinsman) Requires third-party payment of neurobiological disorders and substance abuse for covered children under 19 years of age. . (Commerce; Companion to HF 153) SF 136 BIOLOGICAL MENTAL ILNESS COVERAGE (Tinsman & Maddox) Requires a group carrier to cover biologically based mental illness if the employer had more than 50 employees for more than fifty days in the past year, has coverage for mental illness or is a public sector employer. (Commerce) SF 137 NEUROBIOLOGICAL DISORDER COVERAGE (Tinsman & Maddox) Coverage: Requires policies for third-party payment of medical expenses to include coverage neurobiological disorders for employers who employ more than 50 employees for half the work year; for policies that are issued to small businesses and the policy provides for mental illness coverage or the policy is for public employees. Definitions: Defines neurobiological disorders as schizophrenic, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, developmental disorders and attention deficit disorders. Contains related provisions. Substance Abuse Study: Requires the Insurance Division to study the impact of providing substance abuse coverage. (Commerce)
© 2008 The American Nurses Association, Inc. All Rights Reserved
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