WVNA Legislative Updates - Weekly Report Feb 5th
Posted over 5 years ago by Julie Huron
- SB 715: WVNA Patient Safety & Transparency Act. This bill has been introduced by Senator Lindsay in the Senate today, Feb 5th, 2020 and will allow facilities to establish staff-based RN committees to determine appropriate, acuity-based nurse to patient ratio’s. The facilities would also be responsible to post their daily nurse to patient ratios in each unit, thereby providing transparency to the public. Senator Lindsey has agreed to sponsor in the Senate, and Delegate Summers is considering sponsoring in the House. The WVNA board and HP&L committee have been working to gather support in both the House and Senate. The WVNA has generated an anonymous survey to better assist us with determining the severity of acute care staffing deficiencies here in West Virginia. You can find a link to your “WV Acute Care Nurse Staffing” survey HERE. These surveys are providing us with real-life nursing stories so we encourage everyone to please take a few minutes to complete the survey and then share with your fellow acute care nurses. Watch for a bulleted list of talking points to help keep our communication focused and accurate while speaking with your legislators.
- HB4011 Chapter 30: Passed the House, it is now in the Senate and has been referenced to Gov Org. and Judiciary.
- HB 4356 CRNA: Relating to the administration of anesthetics. To update the WV Nurse Practice Act to reflect actual CRNA practice across the state. Held over on the third reading in the house.
- HB 4583 AARP: Pharmacy transparency. Introduced in the House, on to House Health and Human Resources.
- Medical Cannabis: On hold for now as recreational cannabis is in the works.
- SB560 AMAP: Just passed the third reading in the Senate and is on to the House. The HP&L Committee has taken a neutral stance on this bill, although it does include the provisions WVNA has advocated for, over the last two years.
- Hospital Association – faculty wages – Delegate Graves is working on this budget line item with Delegate Householder to double nursing faculty staff and to increase wages (with an expectation for colleges and nursing programs to also have an investment as well. This will affect direct and indirect staff.
- HB 4434: West Virginia health care workforce sustainability study. It passed the House, on to the Senate.
- HB 4391 WV Healthcare Decisions Act – Hospice Council. Redefining certain definitions, including the definition of "Life-prolonging intervention". It’s been in House Health and Human Resources since Jan 16th.