Legislative News
Full practice authority bill update!
Our Senate FPA bill is probably not going to make it out of the Senate this year but this is the first of a two year session so our bill will still be in play next session! The physicians have come on strong with their usual arguments–we are not safe, we need supervision, we have not the education to practice independently. Surprisingly, the physicians failed to tell the legislators that most of us pay our collaborating physician a fee to collaborate or for some of us–to only sign our practice agreement. The fee can be substantial and for some, higher than $10,000 per year per APRN.
The CAHC has come up with a SurveyMonkey survey to look into these fees. Please complete this 2 minute survey so we can go back to the legislators with the data showing that the physicians again profit off of the APRNs.
My nurse practitioners bill doesn’t expand their scope; they can only provide services within their training. But it allows them to so without having to share a portion of their fee with physicians, which only imposes greater costs on patients without any corresponding benefit. pic.twitter.com/Cem3ruszdA
— Tom Davis (@SenTomDavisSC) October 11, 2023
We are appealing to our membership to contact their South Carolina State Representatives and Senators and urge their support for our bill – Senate Bill 553!
This is the start of the two-year session and it may take the full two years to push this bill to law. The governor has already said he will sign whatever we bring him.
When talking to legislators or people of influence, remember this is about Access to Healthcare in SC. After our 2018 bill passed, more APRNs went to the rural areas and more physicians left the rural areas. This has been documented by AHEC.
💰 Coalition Needs Donations!
The Coalition will be looking to hire a second lobbyist and is asking for donations. To pass the 2018 bill – which took us four years – cost us well over $100,000. We expect that our costs will be much higher with this bill. Please remember, this is for our future and the future of our profession! Please give generously!
📫 Checks may be mailed to CAHC, PO Box 1163, Columbia, SC 29202
Start Making Calls!
See links below for House and Senate contact info!