| MNA Secures Several Major
Wins on Beacon Hill!
The MNA has been working for over a year on
a number of critical nursing bills that have recently passed
into law as components of the State Budget, just signed into
law by Governor Paul Cellucci. Many pieces of this legislation
possess some of the strongest language for nursing in the
nation.
- The Governor signed the MNA's Whistle
-blower bill into law, Tuesday November 16th- thanks
to the tireless efforts of MNA's lobbyists who crafted the
bill and pushed for whistle-blower protection of nurses
in the Common wealth. The strong language in this bill sets
a precedent for nurses across the nation. It allows
providers to “blow the whistle” for violations of law, rule
or regulations and for violations of professional standards
of practice. Rep. Christine Canavan, RN, (D-Brockton),
Rep. Brian Cresta (R-Wakefield), Sen. Richard Tisei (R-Wakefield),
Sen. Steven Tolman (D-Boston) and Sen. Mark Montigny (D-
New Bedford) were pivotal to securing the successful passage
of this language.
Other key issues worked on and secured by
the MNA this year are the following:
- Establishment of adequate funding for
the first state-wide Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program
in the entire United States! Sen. Mark Montigny
(D- New Bedford), Sen. Cheryl Jacques (D-Needham), Sen.
Brian Lees (R- E. Longmeadow), Rep. Ellen Story (D-Amherst)
and Rep. David Donnelly (D-Boston) were instrumental in
this success.
- A special commission to evaluate and
report on the Delivery of Health Care by Nurses! The
Commission is charged with making recommendations for needed
legislation in relation to access to nursing services.
This effort was championed and gained by Rep. Christine
Canavan, RN (D-Brockton).
- Secured a seat on the 25 year Advisory
Commission to the Tobacco Settlement Fund - with $6.5
million of the first check being spent this coming fiscal
year on School Nursing Services. The commission is
charge with the decision- making to spend and invest over
$7 billion coming to Massachusetts in the next 25 years
from the Tobacco Settlement - and MNA is at the table.
The MNA thanks both Rep. Paul Haley (D-Weymouth) and
Sen. Mark Montigny (D -New Bedford), the Chairs of the House
and Senate Committee on Ways and Means for their leadership
on this issue and for keeping nursing “at the table”.
By working with other groups the MNA also
secured the
following wins:
- $11.5 million dollars for School
Health Centers and School Health Services for public and
non-public schools. These funds emanated from
the work of the School Nursing Services Collaborative of
which MNA is a founder. Rep. Mary Jane Simmons,
LPN (D-Leominster) is responsible for the Governors’ override
of the full funding for these services.
- Funding made available for the provision
of hepatitis B vaccine and vaccination series for public
employees under a “universal immunization program” which
will raise public awareness and provide health care providers
with education, including dissemination of materials on
identification, reporting and counseling to public health,
medical and other health care professions regarding hepatitis
C. (N.B., You may know that public sector employees
do not enjoy OSHA protections, so this is a significant
step towards increasing the safety of their work sites.)
MNA thanks both Chairs of Ways and Means for their attention
to this issue.
The MNA has achieved these accomplishments through
the letter writing, phone calling, personal lobbying, and testifying
by countless members of the MNA in their local legislative districts
and on Beacon Hill. Credit also goes to the dedication
and hard work of our Department of Legislation and Government
Affairs, Gloria Craven RN, MS and Stacey Ober, RN, JD who receives
its direction and guidance from the elected leadership of the
MNA Congress on Health Policy and Legislation. Finally, the
legislative success of the MNA are greatly supported by the
MNA's political action committee, NursePLAN. For more
information on how to become involved in the MNA's legislative
efforts or to learn how to make a contribution to support this
group. Please contact Martha Campbell at 781.830.5725
or mcampbell@mnarn.org
Or, call the MNA's legislative hotline at
781.821.4625, x759.
Editor's note: The MNA established a legislative department
over 25 years ago and funded for a second lobbyist position
three years ago. In the last six years, the MNA lobbyists
have passed 10 bills into law (not including the above mentioned
initiatives). These include: the Nurse Practice Act,
Third Party Reimbursement for Nurse Practitioners and the
Identification of Health Care Providers (name-tag bill).
They have directly influenced the passage of another 8 pieces
to secure nurse sensitive language, as in: the Post –Partum
Drive-Through Delivery legislation in 1995, the Licensure
of the Pine Street Inn Nurses Clinic, the Newborn Hearing
Testing, and U Mass/Memorial Merger.
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