MNA Legislative Update, March 8, 2013

Standards of Care Act Update

The Standards of Care Act, MNA’s bill to establish patient assignment limits for nurses passed the Government Operations committee 8-7. The committee passed an amendment to the bill to exempt Critical Access Hospitals (rural hospitals with 25 or fewer beds that meet certain federal criteria) from the legislation. MNA continues to believe that all patients in Minnesota, regardless of their geographic location, are entitled to the same standard of safe nursing care.
In the House, the bill is now headed for the Health and Human Services Policy Committee. We will alert you when a hearing date is scheduled.

CALL TO ACTION: Contact your legislators TODAY. Legislators are telling us that they’re only hearing from hospitals about this bill. We know you’re calling and emailing, but we need to turn up the volume! If legislators only hear the hospitals’ message that staffing is fine, they’ll never pass our bill.

Use the MNA Grassroots Action Center to contact your state senator and state representative TODAY. Tell them how your patients are affected by unsafe nurse staffing, and why we need statewide standards of care to protect patients and nurses.

Nurse Practice Act

After years of discussion, MNA, the Minnesota Board of Nursing and organizations representing LPNs have come to an agreement about changes to the Minnesota Nurse Practice Act clarifying the scope of LPN practice, and the relationship between LPNs and RNs. The Minnesota Nurse Practice Act language has not been updated in over forty years, so this agreement reflects decades of advances in nursing care.

A bill based on that agreement had a hearing before the House Health and Human Services Policy Committee this morning. Thanks to chief author Representative Patti Fritz, a retired LPN, for moving this bill through the House. The bill passed the committee unanimously and will move on to a vote on the House floor. The Senate companion, SF1016 authored by Senator Chris Eaton, RN, is awaiting a hearing in the Senate Health, Human Services and Housing Committee.

Over 800 individuals participated in providing feedback on the language, including many MNA members who attended listening sessions last summer or who submitted written comments. Thanks to all of you who spoke up on behalf of your profession.

Health Insurance Exchange

After multiple hours of floor debates and over 100 amendments, the House and Senate both passed the Minnesota Health Insurance Exchange bill, creating an online marketplace for individuals and small businesses to comparison shop for affordable health care coverage. There are many differences between the two versions of the bill that will be worked out in a conference committee in the coming days.

Town Hall Meetings

Many legislators are holding town hall meetings for constituents to come learn about the legislative session and share their opinions. This is a great opportunity for you to meet your legislators and build relationships with them. It’s also a good venue to educate your legislator and your neighbors about the need for the Standards of Care Act to establish statewide patient safety standards. Check below to see if your legislator is holding a town hall meeting. (If you know of other meetings that aren’t listed here, please contact Geri Katz at 651-414-2855 or geri.katz@mnnurses.org.)

Saturday, March 9

Representative Shannon Savick Coffee and Conversation

Saturday, March 9, 9:00 am

Prairie Wind Coffee, 211 South Broadway, ALBERT LEA

Senator Kevin Dahle and Representative Kelby Woodard

Saturday, March 9, 10 am

Belle Plain Library, 125 West Main Street, BELLE PLAINE MN 56011

Senator Kevin Dahle and Representative Kelby Woodard

Saturday, March 9, 11:30 am

Le Sueur Library, 118 Ferry Street, LE SUEUR MN 56058

Senator Kevin Dahle and Representative Kelby Woodard

Saturday, March 9, 1 pm

Le Center City Hall, 10 West Tyrone Street, LE CENTER MN 56057

Senator Kevin Dahle and Representative David Bly

Saturday, March 9, 2:30 pm

Northfield Library, 210 Washington Street, NORTHFIELD MN 55057

Saturday, March 23

Representative Barb Yarusso Coffee and Conversation

Saturday, March 23, 9:00am – 11:00am

Raz’s Coffee and Ice Cream Café, 1048 Highway 96 W, SHOREVIEW, MN 55126

Monday, March 25