Message for NJ APNs

Dear NJ APNs,

Please see below for the message sent by Dr. Kathleen Jackson, FNAP Southern Chapter Chair. We need your help more than ever to pass "Consumer Access to Care"

Happy Thanksgiving and I am grateful for the excellent care you give!

Joan Zaccardi

At APN Education Day New Jersey State Nurses Associations CEO Judith Schmidt requested that we contact our legislators as soon as possible regarding the "Consumer Access to Health Care Act" as it will allow full practice authority for APNs in NJ by eliminating the joint protocol requirement. It is important for each one of us to contact our legislator and ask them to encourage Senate President Sweeny to move this bill out of committee to be voted on by the representatives. It is our understanding that Governor Murphy would be in support of signing this bill into law. CEO Schmidt states:

“It is imperative that APNs in Senate President Sweeney’s voting district contact him to request him to post the bill for a full senate vote. If the bill is not posted for a vote before January, the bill will die and will need to be reintroduced in the next legislative session. Please, we are asking that you and your colleagues, patients, friends, contact, call, write or visit their Assembly or Senate representative ASAP. Do not wait!“

Some language that you can use when contacting your legislator:

"As a NJ (Advance Practice Nurse, patient, etc.), I am contacting you today to ask your support for A854/S1961 the “Consumer Access to Health Care Act” and to have this bill as a legislative priority in “lame duck”. Removing barriers and improving access to advance practice nurses (APNs) is essential in NJ. A recent policy analysis revealed that 16% of New Jersey adults reported to have no usual place of healthcare and 21% do not have a personal primary care provider. These statistics are among the worst levels in all states in the Northeast. In addition, 13 out of 20 counties in NJ have a primary care provider shortage. APNs can help to fill this shortage. In addition, NJ APNS will be able to practice at the top of their education, licensing and certification. Continuing the “joint protocol” or “collaborating agreement” with physicians is a barrier to APN practice that prevents our New Jersey citizens from accessing the health care they need to attain optimal health."

Find your legislators here: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/legsearch.asp

Senate President- Stephen M. SweeneyDistrict 3 - (Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem) Alloway, Bridgeton, Carneys Point, Clayton, Deerfield, East Greenwich, Elk, Elmer, Elsinboro, Franklin (Gloucester), Glassboro, Greenwich (Gloucester), Logan, Lower Alloways Creek, Mannington, National Park, Newfield, Oldmans, Paulsboro, PennsGrove, Pennsville, Pilesgrove, Pittsgrove, Quinton, Salem, South Harrison, Swedesboro, Upper Deerfield, Upper Pittsgrove, WestDeptford, Woodbury Heights, Woodstown, Woolwich

Contact him here: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/bio.asp?Leg=216

Thank you!