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Bill Watch

Senate

SB 235- An act to amend Title 16 of the Delaware Code creating the Delaware Prescription Monitoring Act. This Bill is the Delaware Prescription Monitoring Program Act. It provides for the establishment of a program for the monitoring of prescribing and dispensing Schedule II, III, IV, or V controlled substances and other drugs of concern by the Office of Controlled Substances of the Division of Professional Regulation. It requires dispensers to submit certain information regarding the dispensing of controlled substances. That information is compiled into a database that can be accessed by physicians and other prescribers to provide them additional information about their patient’s history of controlled substance use. That information can be used to lessen the diversion of controlled substances without interfering with their legitimate uses, such as chronic pain management. Information is also made available in certain circumstances to law enforcement and regulatory boards, to assist them in the investigation of unlawful use of controlled substances. Prescription monitoring information is protected health information, and the bill instructs the Office of Controlled Substances to maintain procedures to ensure the privacy and confidentiality of patient information. The bill also creates criminal penalties for unlawful disclosure of prescription information. The Office of Controlled Substances is required to provide the General Assembly with an annual evaluation of the program. Current Status: Out of Senate Finance Committee on 05/05/2010

SB 204- This Act provides for insurance coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders. Assigned to Finance Committee in Senate 03/16/10.

SB 182 – Amends Title 24 relating to Nursing. The bill prohibits the use of the title "Nurse" unless such person is a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse. It also includes limits, titles, and abbreviations for advanced practice nurses. Signed on 03/31/10.~DNA initiated

SB 81 – Requires chain restaurants to properly and completely label food choices with important nutritional information. SA 1 & SA 2, both bills make the education and evaluation requirements contingent on funding and conducted as a partnership of agencies, were both introduced and placed with the bill. SA 3 & SA 5, both bills bring the legislation into conformity with a national compromise on restaurant menu labeling, was introduced and placed with the bill. SA 4, makes a technical correction, was introduced and placed with the bill. SA1, SA 2, SA 3, & SA 4 were all stricken on Thursday, January 21st. SB 81 with SA 5 passed the Senate. House Economic Development/Banking/Insurance/Commerce Committee On 01/27/10

House

HCR 28 - This resolution makes the case that the current healthcare entitlement program being considered by Congress is not supported by the majority of Americans; is not fiscally wise or sustainable; and will increase the burden on taxpayers while reducing healthcare options. It further maintains that the federal government does not have the authority to impose a federal healthcare program and urges the U.S. Congress to pursue less costly and more viable alternatives to reduce the cost of healthcare and increase its availability. Lastly, should the 111th Congress decide to abandon rational thinking and thwart the will of the American people by enacting a federal healthcare entitlement, it urges Delaware’s Congressional delegation to advocate for a provision that would require states to choose to “opt-in” to the program. House House Administration Committee On 03/18/2010

HB 326-Consistent with Delaware’s Child Victim’s Act, this Act clarifies that civil actions based on sexual abuse of a patient by a healthcare provider may be filed at any time after the commission of the abuse. This Act also creates a 2-year “look-back” provision in cases of abuse which was unknown and could not reasonably have been discovered by the patient. Out of Committee On 03/17/10

HB 336 - This Act enhances the Family Court’s ability to protect victims of domestic violence and abuse by authorizing the Family Court to enter the no contact provisions of protection from abuse orders for up to 2 years in every case and, where aggravating circumstances exist, authorizing the Family Court to order no contact for as long as it deems necessary to prevent further abuse, including the entry of a permanent order. Out of House Judiciary Committee. Senate passed 05/06/2010

HB 3 – Adds a representative from the Delaware Health Care Facilities Association to the Hospital Infection Advisory Board. HA 1, which makes a minor numbering change, was introduced and placed with the bill. Signed On 03/25/2010

HB 184 with HA 1, HA 2, & HA 3 - Requires all independent unlicensed clinical social work practitioners in Delaware to obtain a licensed for continued practice of social work. Signed on 02/01/2010

HB 249 – Requires a pharmacy to provide pharmacy records to persons who request their records. Signed on 02/01/2010

Past Successes

Nurses Tribute-Observing 2010 as the Year of the Nurse

June 1, 2010-The Delaware Nurses Association received a Senate Tribute from the Senate of the 145th General Assembly paying tribute to all Delaware Nurses observing 2010 as the International Year of the Nurse.

Pictured from left to right are: Sarah Carmody, DNA Executive Director, Alana King, DNA Legislative Chair, Senator Bethany Hall-Long and Kim Scott, Legislative Committee member

 

 

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Nurse Title Protection Signed Into Delaware Law

Dover, DE-On March 31, 2010 Governor Jack Markell signed into law Senate Bill 182 which protects the title of "nurse". The Bill prohibits the use of the title "nurse" unless such person is a registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse. It also includes limits, titles and abbreviations for advanced practice nurses.

Special thank you to Senator Bethany Hall-Long and Representative Earl Jaques for supporting this bill.

Pictured left to right: DNA Members Karen Carmody, Leslie Verucci, Kim Scott, Bonnie Osgood, Felisha Alderson, Representative Earle Jaques, Governor Jack Markell, DNA Executive Director Sarah Carmody, Senator Bethany Hall-Long, Board of Nursing President Rebecca Walker, DNA Member Moonyeen "Kloppy" Klopfenstein, Board of Nursing Executive Director David Mangler

 

APN Council Initiated

Senate Bill 138-This Bill would permit physician’s assistants who are supervised by licensed physicians and advanced practice nurses who are employed by or who have a collaborative agreement with a licensed physician, in addition to physicians, to sign applications and renewal applications for license plates, and temporary and permanent parking permits for persons with disabilities. Signed 07/06/09

 

National

Health Care Reform-What does it mean for nursing?

ANA has created a document which provides an overview of nursing provisions within the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-148). To revew the provisions, please click here.

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DNA Endorsed

PAMTA, S. 619/H.R.1549-Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act

Changes to the Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act

• Deletion of titles relating to data collection and research. Provisions similar to the sections of PAMTA that dealt with this previously were enacted as part of the recent Farm Bill and the Animal Drug User Fee Act.
• Rewording of the mechanism for withdrawing approvals for antibiotics from the market. Whereas the bill formerly talked of "phasing out" classes of antibiotics that are used in animal agriculture for nontherapeutic purposes, the new version of PAMTA states:

  The purpose of this Act is to preserve the effectiveness of medically important antibiotics used in the treatment of human and animal diseases by reviewing the safety of certain antibiotics for nontherapeutic purposes in food-producing animals.

The end result will be the same-- drugs that are important for humans and used in animal feed for nontherapeutic purposes will be removed from the market unless the manufacturer can prove, within two years' time, "reasonable certainty of no harm to human health due to the development of antimicrobial resistance that is attributable in whole or in part to the nontherapeutic use of the drug..."

A thorough summary of this bill may be found by clicking here.

The text of the House version of the bill is available by clicking here. The Senate version by clicking here.

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DNA Opposed

S.A. 2793 to H.R. 3590-Pharmaceutical Market Access and Drug Safety Act of 2009

Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) to revise provisions governing the importation of prescription drugs. Waives the limitation on importation of prescription drugs that have been exported from the United States. Read the full bill.

December 15, 2009-This bill failed to pass by a vote 51 to 48.

 

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ANA's Nurses Strategic Action Team (N-STAT) makes it easy for you to have your voice heard on Capitol Hill. N-STAT will keep you posted on key bills as they move through Congress and let you know when your emails, phone calls, and letter will make the most impact.

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Legislative Resources

• Fedworld.com: The FedWorld.gov web site is a gateway to government information. This site is managed by the National Technical Information Service (NTIS) as part of it's information management mandate.
• National Conference of State Legislatures
• The Library Of Congress
• The US House of Representatives
• The US Senate

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