MCNP members and all nurses attained major gains in the Massachusetts
Legislature's passage on July 31st of Senate President Therese
Murray's initiative known as Health Care Reform II: Containing Cost
and Improving Quality. This legislation is on the heels of the
state's passage of massive reform just last session to insure every
citizen of the Commonwealth. We urge you to call her office and
express "thanks" for incorporating NPs into this major health care
initiative. She can be reached at 617-722-1500.

For Nurse Practitioners, their role and services are a pivotal
component of the bill. For the first time, all health insurers will
be required to recognize NPs as primary care providers and list them
in directories along side other primary care providers so consumers
may choose them to coordinate and direct their care. This also makes
NPs more transparent in the health care delivery system, making it
easier to measure and report the outcomes of the care they deliver.
Massachusetts now joins 24 other states that recognize the NP as a
primary care provider in the law!

The bill's 62 sections has many other provisions notable for advancing
NP practice and the NP role. Of note the bill:

* Focuses on "providers", not just physicians;
* Establishes a new Health Care Workforce Center with a particular
emphasis on primary care, including NPs. The Center will develop
short and long term policies to address workforce shortages;
* Creates a new loan forgiveness program for doctors, NPS and
nurses who commit to practicing in certain specialties;
* Requires the recognition of NPs for consumer choice and
increased access to primary care;
* Authorizes a MassHealth "Medical Home" Demonstration project to
encourage primary care "providers" to adopt a coordinated,
patient-centered care model;
* Establishes a Pharmacy Academic Detailing Program to education
"providers" who prescribe, on the use of therapeutic alternatives in
lower cost brand names and generic drugs;
* Creates an affordable housing model for health care
"professionals" committed to providing care in underserved regions;
* Establishes a Nursing and Allied Health Workforce Development
Trust Fund to increase the nursing workforce and creates loan
forgiveness/incentive programs for graduates who commit to serve as
nursing faculty for specified number of years;
* Directs the MassHealth Payment Policy Advisory board to study
methods of improving reimbursement or bonuses for "providers" engaged
in primary care.

Please know that the MCNP not only lobbied for the passage of our
Primary Care Provider language, we directly influenced the loan
forgiveness, Medical Home Demonstration Project and Nursing and Allied
Health Workforce Development Trust Fund to include NPs!

Please make this last call, expressing gratitude for the Senate
President's incredible strength in retaining NPs in this bill, against
a great deal of opposition. MCNP also recognizes the incredible
leadership of our bill sponsors: Rep. Jennifer Callahan, RN
(617-722-2130) and Senator Susan Fargo (617-722-1572) We encourage
you to thank them as well.

Best....and thanks for helping us to pass this ground breaking new law

Nancy O'Rourke, President MCNP
Beth Rowlands and Leah McKinnon-Howe, Legislative Committee Co-Chairs
MCNP Executive Board
And our hearfelt thanks to our incredible lobbying team:
Craven & Ober, Policy Strategists, LLC
6 Beacon Street
Suite 600
Boston, Massachusetts 02108
Tel: 617-523-6501 Cell: 617-680-0330
FAX: 617-227-0691
www.policystrategists.com