January 28, 2019

Last week committee hearings began in earnest while still juggling the governor's focus on water legislation.

KidsCare Progress

KidsWhat?

While none of the bills that AzNA is pursuing were heard last week, progress was made to protect KidsCare, Arizona’s Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which provides high quality health coverage to children in working families who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid/AHCCCS but struggle to afford private health insurance.

Bills Here, Bills There, Bills Everywhere

HB2513 and SB1134 were filed by Republican sponsors. It is not uncommon for the same bill to be introduced as both a Senate and a House Bill. HB2350 was filed by a Democratic sponsor. Democrats are also passionate about KidsCare and it's not unusual to have several bills on a similar topic.

The More the Merrier

These three bills bode well for the passing of laws that ensure the continuation of the program and aligns with AzNA's mission to promote a healthy Arizona.

AzNA at Work for Nurses

Advancing the Nursing Profession

This week, two of the bills AzNA is pursuing for the 2019 legislative session will be heard in committees:

Say it with us...

...Allow CNSs to practice to the full extent of their education and training.

HB2068 clinical nurse specialists; prescribing authority; provides limited prescriptive authority to CNSs. AzNA supports legislation that allows all APRN groups to practice to the full extent of their education and training. This bill will be heard Thursday in House Health & Human Services.

A Little Money Goes a Long Way

SB1096 health professionals data; repository; appropriation; would appropriate the sum of $50,000 to the Department of Health Services (DHS) to establish and maintain the Health Care Professionals Workforce Data Repository. Arizona lacks a comprehensive system to project the future of the nursing shortage. Proper data collection assures a strong and sustainable supply. Last year, AzNA was integral in the passing of 2018's HB2197 health professionals; workforce data; which laid the groundwork for this database. This year's bill works to solve funding needed to implement the 2018 bill and will be heard in Senate Higher Education & Workforce Development.

Get to Work!

We encourage you to contact your legislators and sign in in support of these bills.

Continued Work for Opioids