Standing Together To Make A Difference

THE BEST RESOURCE FOR NURSE PRACTITIONERS LIKE YOU.

January 2023 Newsletter

Upcoming Events:

Stay tuned for the 17th Annual NPAA Conference Dates

NP RESOURCES

Visit our regional NP groups.

NPAA Store Open for Business!

Visit the NPAA Store! The store is featuring NPAA items like:

t-shirts,
fleeces
portfolios,
tumblers,
bags,
phone wallets and
lapel pins.

Membership Corner:

What better way to start the New Year with NPAA than growing our membership. If you would like to join our membership committee to assist with membership strategies, please complete the registration.

Thank you,

Sharon Bargainer,

VP of Membership

MESSAGE FROM NPAA PRESIDENT, Joyce Loyd-Davis

Dear Members and Supporters,

Happy New Year! We have a very busy year ahead with many exciting things to come. The 2023 conference planning is underway and I encourage you to get involved with that committee. Jo Guice is leading the charge and bringing several new ideas to our conference scheduled to be held in Montgomery, AL. The marketing committee is working on many ideas to emphasize the good work NPs are doing across the state. We plan on highlighting our good work during Nurse Practitioner Week this year. If you are interested in joining that committee, please reach out to Denise Williams and she will connect you with the committee chair Yulanda King.

As we start the year, I would like to emphasize that WE NEED YOU! It is certainly our goal to continually increase membership. Sharon Bargainer the VP of Membership, has great ideas to support that effort. Please join the committee if you can assist in increasing our membership. It is also important to remember to encourage a friend or a colleague to join the organization. There is strength in numbers!

If you are interested in advocating for healthcare, consider connecting with Lisa Pair our VP of Policy. During the legislative session she is present in Montgomery on a weekly basis. You can join her and support any efforts to advocate for Nurse Practitioner interest.

The leaders of this organization are preparing for a great year with impactful outcomes. I appreciate the work happening all around the state to deliver the best healthcare to our patients. Stay well and best wishes for 2023!

Sincerely,

Joyce Loyd-Davis

NPAA, President

Guidance Issued on Removal of X-Waiver Requirement

On Jan. 12, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) issued guidance on the removal of the Drug Addiction Treatment Act of 2000 (DATA) Waiver, which is also known as the X-Waiver. Section 1262 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, removed the federal requirement for practitioners to submit a Notice of Intent (NOI) — a waiver, to prescribe medications, such as buprenorphine, for the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD). With this immediately effective provision, SAMHSA will no longer be accepting NOIs applications.

The agency has stated that all practitioners who have a current U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) registration that includes Schedule III authority may now prescribe buprenorphine for OUD in their practice — if permitted by applicable state law. Further information is available on the SAMHSA website.

Healthcare pro: Alabama’s mental health requires these steps - al.com

Teena McGuinness

I am an Alabama nurse practitioner, NPAA member, and my opinion article on how to grow Alabama’s mental health workforce was published at AL.com. I gave some rationale as to how repealing outdated state regulations could boost access to care (of course, this is true for all aspects of health care). Specifically, the essence of my comments on scope of practice is in quotes below. There is a link at end for entire article.

“But if you cross state lines to Georgia and Florida, reimbursement for psychiatric services is 40% and 30% higher respectively in those states, as compared to Alabama. Not surprisingly many providers educated in Alabama migrate to states with higher pay and less restrictive practices. A prime example is the plight of Alabama psychiatric nurse practitioners. These providers can diagnose and prescribe across the spectrum of psychiatric illnesses, yet their practices are restricted by outdated state regulations. And they leave Alabama to work in states where there are no constraints and practice to the top of their training, promoting the mental health of their citizens. There are 25 other states who have discovered that by lifting these restrictions they are able to attract and retain psychiatric nurse practitioners. This approach is a no-cost way to expand the number of sorely needed mental health providers who can diagnose, prescribe, and monitor treatment for people with mental illness.”

Interested in Joining NPs at the Alabama Capital

The Full Practice Authority Committee is planning on visiting the members of the legislature every Wednesday during the legislative session. The first visit is scheduled for March 8th. Please arrive by 7:45 am at The Alabama State House Wednesday morning to meet with NPAA. Please dress in professional attire, comfortable shoes and bring your talking points provided by NPAA. Once you enter the Alabama State House front doors, we will meet you on the other side of security. Be photo ready. Thank you for signing up to be a voice for your peers.

We encourage you to sign up for a quick meet and greet with the senator in your district before we go. If you need assistance with that just send me an email and I would be happy to assist you.

Whitnee Brown

NPAA FPA Chair

Legislative Mobility Team Lead

wbrown33423@gmail.com

Support the NPAA PAC

The NPAA PAC continues to actively work to improve health care for all Alabamians and to move NP practice forward in Alabama. The important role of a political action committee (PAC) in an organization is often underestimated, but this critical component of our political affairs activities cannot be overlooked. We need your support!

The NPAA PAC contributions help elect and keep in office those state legislators and public officials that support the removal of barriers to NP practice and promote improving patient access to quality health care and nurse practitioners as health care providers. Your donations also enable more direct contact with Alabama legislators by making it possible for us to participate and join other healthcare groups in sponsoring activities directed toward targeted campaigns. Activities for which PAC money can be used include donations to political candidates, participating in political fundraising, and targeting votes through advertising.

Photo above: Jennifer Wilson, PAC Secretary, Joyce Loyd-Davis, NPAA President, Brandy Young, PAC President, Leigh Ann Luna, PAC Treasurer.

Vist the PAC Page

Stand with us to make a difference in Alabama. Join NPAA today!