NPAM Working for Maryland NPs - Nurse Practitioner Association of Maryland

NPAM Working for Maryland NPs

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One of the hardest benefits to quantify is the work that is done behind the scenes and ends up benefiting all Maryland NPs. Your Board of Directors, Executive Director, and full time management staff is available to you by an easy email or a phone call to help with day to day issues that come up in your practice. NPAM is an invaluable resource to its members

September, 2016

In the August 5th edition of the Maryland Register (Volume 43, Issue 16), the publication released every two weeks on Maryland regulations, a section of proposed language caught the eye of NPAM member, Adele Forester, related to Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy for autism spectrum disorder (Subtitle 09 - Medical Care Programs, Section 10.09.28 - Applied Behavior Analysis Services). While the substantive language related to medicaid reimbursement for ABA therapy, a clause naming specific "qualified health professionals" did not include Pediatric Nurse Practitioners. NPAM leaders drafted a letter during the comment period and recently received a positive response from the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene that the final regulations will include "nurse practitioners with training and expertise to diagnose ASD" under the qualified healthcare profession definition.

The joint efforts by the NPAM Legislative Committee and NAPNAP to craft dual letters urging the Department to edit that specific definition is another example of the strong communication within both associations who work closely together to meet the needs of membership on behalf of our professionals and to the benefit of patients in Maryland.

NPAM will communicate with updates on the final regulations when they are published

May-July 2016
In May, 2016, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a proposed rule in the Federal Register for nurse practitioners (NPs) and other advance practice registered nurses (APRNs) practicing in Veterans Health Administration Facilities. NPAM has strongly encouraged members to comment to the VA in support of APRNs at the VA. Read the letter submitted on behalf of NPAM to the VA.

January 2016
NPAM Sponsors the Women’s Legislators of Maryland ReceptionThe 2016 Women’s Legislators of Maryland Annual Opening Reception held on Tuesday, January 12, 2016 at The Governor Calvert House in Annapolis, MD was well attended. The Nurse Practitioner Association of Maryland (NPAM) helped to sponsor the event as a bronze sponsor and several members attended.

May 2015

Governor Hogan signing our bill -- the Certified Nurse Practitioner Authority to Practice -- Making Maryland a Full Practice Authority state!

NPAM Legislative Co-Chair Sandi Nettina (L), Gov. Hogan, NPAM Executive Director Beverly Lang (r)

February 2015
Changes were recently made by the Public Service Commission to COMAR 20.31.01 General Regulations and COMAR 20.31.02 Restrictions of Terminations and were published in the Maryland Register on February 20, 2015, Volume 42, Issue 4, Page 441.

This change added Nurse Practitioners to the list of medical professions permitted to certify to an electric or gas utility that the utility’s customer has a serious illness, or is in need of life-support equipment, and is therefore exempt from termination of utility service for an initial period of 30 days and beyond that time as prescribed in the regulation.

Thanks to Sandi Nettina, Andrea Schram, Julia Worchester and the entire NPAM Legislative Committee for diligently working since 2009 to add NPs to the list of healthcare providers who can certify a serious illness!

July 2014
Thanks to NPAM, lead by President Andrea Schram, the Public Service Commission is proposing revised COMAR language that will include Nurse Practitioners as providers who can certify exemption from termination of service by utility companies based on serious illness or need of life support equipment. Read the Commission's letter and proposed language. NPAM always working for Maryland NPs

NPAM members are not alone among NPs who have ongoing issues being credentialed as a provider by United Healthcare. NPAM leadership has been following up with UHC and have recently contacted the Maryland Insurance Commissioner regarding these issues. Read President Elect Dale Jafari's letter and Executive Director Beverly Lang's letter.

June 2014

Read NPAM correspondence to legislators here.The latest additions are letters of thanks to Sen Mikulski and Rep Edwards for their support of important legislation.

March 2014

Long time member and district director Maureen Kelley was told that NP signatures were not being accepted by the MTA on certain forms. Read Executive Director Beverly Lang's response

Recently NPAM has been contacted by several members regarding the ongoing confusion by medical equipment companies about who can order DME. NPAM Executive Director Beverly Lang responded immediately by writing those companies (click to read letter) to share the regulations with said companies. If you find you are being prevented from ordering DME, please let us know (NPAM@npedu.com) AANP also wants your feedback as they are collecting incidents from across the country.

Below please find letters written regarding proposed legislation in 2014

Mikulski thank you for co-sponsoring S1332 The Home Health Planning and Improvement Act

Edwards thank you for co-sponsoring HR2504 The Home Health Planning and Improvement Act

Nursing Community Comments to DHMD State Innovation Model Report (SIM Report)

HB 1339/SB 807 – Drivers' Licenses - Disorder, Disease, or Physical Disability Identification, Disclosure, and Reporting (SUPPORT)

HB 44 Family Law - Temporary and Final Protective Orders - Emergency Evaluation for Mental Disorder. (support)

HB 0310 Tanning Devices – Use by Minors - Prohibition (support)

HB 395 Health Care Malpractice Claims – Definition of "Health Care Provider”