The Campaign for Full Practice Authority

1. The Campaign for Full Practice Authority ‪educationcareerarticles.com

2. Nurse Practitioners care for Pennsylvania in communities large and small. • Care for Pennsylvania is the name of the campaign for full practice authority in our state. Our goal is to improve the quality of health care and expand access to health care. • Research and policy experts overwhelmingly support full practice authority for NPs.

3. Everything we do starts and ends with our patients • We strive to provide the best quality care, and more than 9,200 Nurse Practitioners proudly care for Pennsylvania every day. • They key tool to accomplish this goal is …you: your experience your story the care you provide your patients

4. Patients come first. Nurse practitioners provide proven, high-quality care to patients. Over the past 40 years, every major study on NP care – over 100 – has shown that nurse practitioners’ patient health outcomes are as good or better than other providers. That’s because their training guides NPs to take a holistic approach. They look at – and listen to – the entire patient.

5. Pennsylvanians need more primary care. The existing shortage of primary care providers already impacts residents – particularly in underserved rural and urban areas. Now, more than 600,000 Pennsylvanians are eligible to gain insurance coverage through Medicaid expansion. Over half of all NPs are educated to provide primary care. We must act quickly to ensure Pennsylvanians can depend on access to quality health care in the years to come.

6. Nurse practitioners serve rural communities. Current regulations limit access to care for rural Pennsylvanians. Nurse practitioners are twice as likely as physicians to serve rural communities, and NPs in states with full practice authority are twice as likely to practice in rural areas compared to states – like PA – without it.

7. It saves money. Outdated regulations put red tape between nurse practitioners and patients. Free market advocates support full practice authority for nurse practitioners because increased competition in health care is good for patients – and consumers. Unlike other proposals to expand access to care, full practice authority won’t cost taxpayers a dime.

8. Experience and experts agree. 19 states and Washington, DC have already adopted full practice authority. The Institute of Medicine, AARP, the National Governor’s Association, the Federal Trade Commission, and the National Conference of State Legislatures have endorsed the policy.

9. Team-based, patient-centered care will remain strong. Patients are healthiest when they have the ability to access the health care system easily and affordably. Nurse practitioners are trained to work as part of a health care team – it is part of our core philosophy. Just like primary care physicians, NPs work with specialists any time it benefits the health of a patient.

10. To create the largest impact, nurses must be politically involved, create allies, have a unified message, and take advantage of our positive public reputation.

12. Legislative Leaders Senator Patricia Vance Cumberland and York County Representative Jesse Topper Bedford/Fulton/Huntingdon County

13. We need your help: Tell your story. • Help policymakers and the general public understand how nurse practitioners improve our patients’ lives – and how common sense changes to state law will help us do it. • Who are they? • Where are they? • When did you make a significant difference in someone’s life?

14. Meeting with Policymakers: Be Prepared • Know your state legislators. • Notify your Regional Rep of your meeting • Know how to navigate the legislative system • Speak with a strong voice and a concise message • Use the evidence-based Talking Points • Be knowledgeable on the topic • Speak the truth and stay positive

15. Meeting with Policymakers: Be Prepared • Present yourself as a professional • Be memorable. Tell a personal story. Be credible and personable. ….You are the expert. • Use the Talking Points. Maintains accuracy and consistency. Leave the Talking Points behind. • Say thanks you and end with an ‘Ask’. • Send a recap form to your regional rep.

16. Build Coalitions • Organizations help activate their own members across PA • Possibly in important legislative districts. • Help demonstrate the benefit of improved access to healthcare professionals for PA residents, who will directly benefit from updating the law. • If you know an organization that would be a good coalition, please forward their information to our coalition coordinator Meredith Montalto: Meredith@ceislermedia.com

17. Write Handwritten Letters • Reps and Senators receive form letters and email blasts often….not handwritten letters. • 5 or 10 hard copy letters stand out………Flood the small mailbox!!!!! • Draft letters for support available from your rep

18. #CareForPAin Social Media facebook.com/PACoalitionOfNPs @PCNP_News YouTube channel

19. Lobby Day 2015May 12th in Harrisburg • 9am: rally in the Harrisburg Capitol rotunda • Morning briefing, followed by meetings with lawmakers.

20. Additional questions… • Keegan Gibson Special Projects Manager keegan@ceislermedia.com • Susan Schrand PCNP’s CEO sschrand@pacnp.org • Lorraine Bock PCNP’s President lorrainecrnp@gmail.com

21. Please contact your Regional Representative: • Notify of meeting with legislator • Talking Points • How to Contact a Lawmaker Tip Sheet • Sample Letter to your Lawmaker • Complete Lawmaker Contact Report form and return to regional rep