ACNM Policy Update - 6/8/2015

 

Connecticut S.258 requires each hospital to provide the parent or parents or the legal guardian of a newborn infant with written informational materials containing the American Academy of Pediatrics' recommendations concerning safe sleep practices at the time of the infant's discharge from the hospital. The bill was transmitted to the Governor on June 1.

Illinois H.184 requires the Department of Public Health to establish and conduct a public education program to inform pregnant women and women who may become pregnant regarding cytomegalovirus. The bill has passed both chambers as of May 31.

 

Illinois H.421 includes provisions which make written collaborative agreement required for CNMs practicing outside of a hospital or ambulatory surgical treatment center less onerous by, among other things, eliminating the required monthly collaboration meetings and allowing CNMs who lose their collaborator to continue to practice for up to 90 days without an agreement. The bill has passed both chambers as of May 21.

 

Illinois H.2790 requires the Department of Public Health to provide all newborns with screening tests for the presence of adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD). The bill has passed both chambers as of May 31.

 

New York A.7181 requires that information distributed to maternity patients include recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics relating to safe sleep, including sleep space and position. The bill passed the Assembly on June 1.

 

New York A.7202 updates the Breastfeeding Bill of Rights to include language allowing unpaid breaks from work in order to pump breast milk for up to three years following the birth of a child. The bill passed the Assembly on June 1.

 

Ohio H.124 allows a CNM to issue a prescription for or personally furnish a complete or partial supply of a drug to treat chlamydia, gonorrhea, or trichomoniasis, without having examined the individual for whom the drug is intended, if certain conditions are met. The bill passed the House on May 20.

 

Oregon S.283 prohibits an individual from using the title "Advanced Practice Registered Nurse" or the abbreviation "APRN" unless the individual is a clinical nurse specialist, nurse practitioner or certified registered nurse anesthetist. (CNMs in Oregon are regulated as a category of nurse practitioners). The bill has passed both chambers as of June 4.

 

Texas H.2131 would require one or more health care entities which provide comprehensive maternal, fetal, and neonatal health care for pregnant women with high-risk pregnancies complicated by one or more fetuses with anomalies, with genetic conditions, or with compromise caused by a pregnancy condition or by exposure to be designated as centers of excellence for fetal diagnosis and therapy. The bill was sent to the Governor on May 30.

 
Texas S.791 requires the Department of State Health Services to develop and publish informational   materials for women who may become pregnant, expectant parents, and parents of infants regarding:  (1)  the incidence of cytomegalovirus; (2)  the transmission of cytomegalovirus to pregnant women and women who may become pregnant; (3)  birth defects caused by congenital cytomegalovirus; (4)  available preventive measures to avoid the infection of women who are pregnant or may become pregnant; and (5)  resources available for families of children born with congenital cytomegalovirus. The bill was sent to the Governor on May 30.

 

4.  Selected State Developments - New Laws - CT, FL, GA, TX

Colorado H.1281 requires that birthing facilities perform critical congenital heart defect screening using pulse oximetry. The bill became law on May 29.

Connecticut H.5525 require a screening test for cytomegalovirus for newborns who fail a newborn hearing screening. The bill was signed by the Governor on May 26.

Florida S.982, the Civil Rights Act, prohibits discrimination based on pregnancy in public lodging and food service establishments, in employment, and by occupational licensing, certification, and membership organizations, etc. The bill became law on May 22.

Georgia H.416 is the Consumer Information and Awareness Act. It requires health providers to "conspicuously post and affirmatively communicate the practitioner's specific licensure to all current and prospective patients" by wearing identification badges, displaying information on practice websites, and posting information in reception areas, with few exceptions. The bill became law on May 12 and is effective immediately.

Georgia H.436 requires that physicians and health care providers offer HIV and syphilis testing of pregnant women in their third trimester of pregnancy, regardless of whether the testing was also performed during the first two trimesters. The bill was signed into law on May 12 and carries an effective date of July 1.

Texas S.1753 requires that the identification badge of health care providers clearly state the provider's credential in plain English (e.g., "nurse-midwife"). The bill became law on May 22. Hospitals are not required to comply with this until 2019; for other settings, the act is effective September 1, 2015.


Federal Issues

1.  Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Holds Hearing on Legislation that Will Remove Physician Supervision for APRNs in VA Facilities

On June 3, the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee held a hearing during which they considered S. 297, legislation that includes a provision that authorizes the VA to allow NPs, CNSs working with mental health, and CNMs, who are employed by the VA, to practice independently, without the supervision or direction of others, under a set of VA-approved privileges, regardless of the state in which VA employs the covered nurse.

Currently the VA does not employ CNMs, but contracts for their services on an as needed basis.  The legislation, however, is a good step forward in terms of how federal programs treat APRNs and other practitioners and ACNM has actively supported this legislation in coalition with other professional organizations.  While the VA's witness did not take an official stance on this aspect of the legislation, statements for the record submitted by AMVETS and the Military Officers Association of America were supportive of this change.


2.  Joint Commission Posts Recordings of Webinars on Perinatal Care

On June 2, the Joint Commission posted recordings of two prior webinars related to the perinatal care.  The first webinar covers fall 2015 updates to their Perinatal Care Core Measures and is a continuation of an April 28 webinar.  The second webinar provides an overview of the Joint Commission's new Perinatal Care Certification program.


Please share this Policy Update with any CNMs/CMs you know who are not ACNM members.  We want them to know what the association is doing to help them out and encourage them to become a part of the association.

---

Should you have questions about state issues, please contact Cara Kinzelman, ACNM's Manager of State Government Affairs at [email protected] or 240-485-1841.  

If you have questions regarding federal issues, please contact Jesse Bushman, ACNM's Director of Advocacy and Government Affairs at [email protected] or 240-485-1843.