Page 8 • <strong>The</strong> <strong>Bulletin</strong> <strong>August</strong>, September, October <strong>2015</strong>Policy Primerby Blayne Miley, JDDirector of Policy & Advocacybmiley@indiananurses.orgIt’s been an active summer in nursing policy. <strong>The</strong>Indiana General Assembly interim study committeesare giving us a preview of the 2016 legislative session.<strong>The</strong> Supreme Court issued its third opinion on theAffordable Care Act, deciding in King v. Burwell thatfederally-run exchanges (like Indiana’s) may continueto provide tax credits to help people buy healthinsurance. <strong>The</strong> Indiana State Board of Nursing has fivenew members. Finally, next month Pamela Cipriano,President of the American Nurses Association, willkeynote the <strong>2015</strong> ISNA Annual Meeting to discussstaffing issues.Indiana Legislature Interim Study Topics<strong>The</strong> Indiana General Assembly interim studycommittees are holding hearings on issues that arelikely to be the subject of introduced bills for the 2016legislative session, which begins in January. Here arethe health-related topics selected for study and thecommittees to which they are assigned:• Medical Malpractice Act, including whether thecap on damages should be increased and anypotential changes or improvements to the medicalreview panel process that may improve andstreamline it - Committee on Courts and Judiciary.• Needle distribution and collection programs aspart of a comprehensive response to reducingdisease transmission due to intravenous drug use.<strong>The</strong> study must include a review of the appropriatecriminal penalties for drug offenses and drugparaphernalia related offenses and the use ofproblem solving courts - Committee on PublicHealth, Behavioral Health, and Human Services.• Department of Insurance accident and sicknessinsurance or health maintenance organizationconsumer complaint process & accident andsickness health insurance and HMO denialsof claims, especially because a procedure wasdeemed experimental or investigatory - Committeeon Public Health, Behavioral Health, and HumanServices.• Production and use of hemp oil that is producedfrom industrial hemp - Committee on Agriculture& Natural Resources.• Whether smoking should be prohibited in bars,casinos, and private clubs, including fiscalimpact. Whether e-cigarettes should be definedas tobacco products and subject to smoking bans.E-cigarette taxation. Fiscal impact of an increasein the cigarette tax. Possible funding sources fortobacco use prevention and cessation programs.<strong>The</strong> impact of the tobacco tax on smoking ratesand health living ratings relative to other states.<strong>The</strong> impact of smoking upon families andpregnancy. <strong>The</strong> costs incurred by the state as aresult of smoking during pregnancy and smokingwithin families. <strong>The</strong> fiscal impact of changingexisting laws regarding cigarette tax distribution- Committee on Public Policy.You can view the members of the committees,meeting dates, and webcasts here: http://iga.in.gov/legislative/<strong>2015</strong>/committees/interim. Now is the timeIndiana legislators are deciding what bills they willintroduce in the 2016 legislative session, so now is anopportune time to reach out to your state legislatorswith changes you want to see in Indiana law. If youhave questions, I am happy to provide support andassistance.Pending Federal Legislation Impacts NursesMultiple pieces of legislation that impact nursesare being debated in Congress. Current issues includesafe staffing, veterans health, safe patient handling,and home health. In July, a delegation of ISNA leadersparticipated in the American Nurses Association’sLobby Day, taking to Capitol Hill to advocate for you.To get the latest updates and find out how you canparticipate, visit www.rnaction.org.ISNA-Endorsed Candidates Appointed to theIndiana State Board of NursingGovernor Pence has appointed new members to theIndiana State Board of Nursing who will all serve fouryear terms through June 30, 2019:• India Owens, RN, MSN,CEN, NE-BC, FAEN(endorsed by ISNA)• Mary Rock, RN, MSN,JD (endorsed by ISNA)• Ayana Russell, LPN• Andrew Morrison - consumer memberCongratulations to the new appointees!ISNAbler Student Subscription is the Perfect Back toSchool GiftAs we gear up for the start of another school year,Indiana’s undergraduate nursing students will have anew resource to stay informed on nursing issues. <strong>The</strong>ISNAbler, our weekly e-newsletter now is availableto update students on policy, research, events, andnews. For just $25, students will receive the ISNAbleruntil they obtain their RN license or for five years,whichever occurs first. To be eligible, students mustbe enrolled in an undergraduate nursing programthat prepares them for RN licensure. Subscribetoday at www.indiananurses.org/isnabler-studentsubscription!Health Workforce Studies Publishes NursingWorkforce ReportsYou know all those survey questions you answerwhen you renew your nursing license? HealthWorkforce Studies within the IU Department of FamilyMedicine compiles the answers into a data report anda policy report on Indiana’s nursing workforce. <strong>The</strong>seprovide valuable information on education, diversity,and specialty issues. You can check out the reports,here: http://family.medicine.iu.edu/hws/resources/nursing-resources/. Speaking of the survey questions,the RN license renewal window is open now throughHalloween. Don’t forget to renew your license!ISNA is Here For YouISNA is committed to getting more nurses andnursing students involved in policy. I am your advocate,and also a resource to amplify your advocacy. I amhappy to travel anywhere in the state to speak to anynursing group about how and why to be engaged inpolicy. All you have to do is ask.I am excited to announce this fall I am joiningthe ranks of nurse educators as an adjunct facultymember at Indiana State University. I will be coteachinga graduate-level Health Policy Leadershipcourse utilizing a distance learning platform. I lookforward to reaching more nurses, raising ISNA’s brandawareness, and sharpening my skills in conveyingpolicy issues. I welcome any do’s and don’ts fromeducators or students reading this!
<strong>August</strong>, September, October <strong>2015</strong> <strong>The</strong> <strong>Bulletin</strong> • Page 9
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