Urgent Advocacy Needed!!

Posted about 5 years ago by Doreen Cassarino

HB 821 passed the Florida House of Representatives on April 17, 2019 with a vote of 75 yeas and 37 nays. This bill removes unnecessary barriers to APRN practice and will increase access to care for many Floridians. However, the bill can not become law unless a companion bill is also passed out of the Senate. Senator Gayle Harrell, chair of the Senate Health Policy Committee, has yet to place SB 972, the companion bill in the Senate, on the committee agenda.

With two weeks left in the 2019 legislative session, your support is urgently needed. The last day for regularly scheduled committee meetings is on April 23, 2019 and the last day of the regular session is May 3, 2019. Please take a few moments to respectfully email or call Senator Harrell to ask for a hearing on Senate Bill 972. A sample letter is provided for you below.

To email Senator Harrell: Harrell.Gayle.web@flsenate.gov

To call Senator Harrell: 850-487-5025

Again thank you for your help!

Doreen Cassarino, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, BC-ADM, FAANP, FNAP

FNPN Legislative Vice President

Honorable Senator Harrell,

I am an advanced practice registered nurse and I respectfully request that SB 972 be placed on the agenda for its first committee hearing. This bill will increase access to care across Florida, especially in our 30 rural counties. It will decrease rising health care costs in our state resulting in a cost savings between $50-$493 per Floridian. SB 972 also reduces unnecessary regulations on advanced practice registered nurses while maintaining safe quality care. Currently there are 22 states and the District of Columbia which have implemented similar legislation without repeal or untoward effect.

Thank you for your commitment to improving healthcare access to Florida residents.

Respectfully,

Name and Title