Time to Take Action! This Week at the Statehouse

[April 12, 2019]

We need your help! Send a letter to your state representative urging them to oppose HB 177. 

Legislation that would eliminate the current requirement that APRNs collaborate with a physician has once again been introduced in the Ohio Legislature. This issue has been discussed and debated in the General Assembly many times. Legislators must understand that physicians and APRNs are not interchangeable, and that Ohio physicians will not stand for this unnecessary and unsafe change to APRN scope of practice!

In other Statehouse news...

• SB 23, the Human Rights and Heartbeat Protection Act, has been signed by Governor DeWine. The bill bans abortions after detection of a fetal heartbeat.
• SB 24 regarding the establishment of an Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementias task force passed in the Senate.
• HB 144 would prohibit hospitals from requiring a RN or LPN to work overtime as a condition of continued employment and is being heard in the Commerce & Labor Committee.
• SB 61 will increase the scope of the certified registered nurse anesthetists by allowing them to select, order, and administer certain drugs. It is being heard in the General Government & Agency Review Committee.
• Additionally, the House Finance HHS Subcommittee convened several meetings this week hearing public testimonies on state’s operating budget from numerous heads of groups such as the Ohio Health Care Association, Voices for Ohio’s Children, Buckeye Health, Paramount Healthcare, United Healthcare, Ohio Association of County Behavioral Health Authorities Panel, and several Ohio counties’ Mental Health and Recovery Boards among others. Testimonies addressed proposals regarding increased funding for foster care; Medicaid reimbursement and funding for care takers, assisted living and skilled nursing facilities, and mental health and addiction services; and care delivery models provided by Medicaid.