PANA Government Affairs


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A Message From PANA President Kelly Wiltse Nicely CRNA PhD.

The legislative session for 2011 has begun. A great number of new legislators are settling into both their district and Harrisburg offices, and a new Governor preparing to lead Pennsylvania into the future. The PA CRNAs are again resolute in fighting to ensure title protection in the form of scope of practice legislation. The PANA is preparing to introduce House Bill 212, our scope of practice legislation. The need for this legislation is multifaceted. The Advanced Nursing Practice Certification is already required in our surrounding states and throughout the nation and will soon be expected in Pennsylvania. Nurse Midwives and Nurse Practitioners are recognized in Pennsylvania as APNs but we, the oldest advanced nursing practice, are not. We as an association must move forward to ensure our specialty by protecting and securing the right to practice. There have been attempts by the Pennsylvania Medical Society and the Pennsylvania Society of Anesthesiologists to restrict us by controlling our ability to practice. PANA has been successful in protecting your scope of practice, but it becomes harder and harder each time it is attacked. The ability to protect your scope of practice is a lot easier when it is a regulation as 21:17 is, versus a law, which is what we currently seek. In order for your board to secure your right to practice we must never stop until we achieve title protection and we cannot even begin to acquire an APN certification without it.

I ask each and every CRNA in our Commonwealth to reach out to your legislators and ask them to co-sponsor and support HB 212. Every voice matters. Legislators want to hear from their constituents!

Thank You for your efforts,
Kelly

Search for Legislation in Pennsylvania

Use this link to go to the legislative search page for both the House and Senate

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You may also look for transcripts of daily activities for both houses and committees.

Legislation of Interest - Session 2011
  • House Bill 212:  Representative Stephen Barrar has submitted CRNA Scope Of Practice legislation to the Pennsylvania House. A revision of last years legislation, please take the time to review this important bill.
  • Senate Bill 936:  Senator Mary Jo White has submitted CRNA Scope Of Practice legislation to the Pennsylvania Senate. A revision of last years legislation, please take the time to review this important bill.
  • Senate Resolution 13:  Senator Mary Jo White's Resolution recognizing the week of January 23 through 29, 2011, as "Nurse Anesthetists Week" in Pennsylvania. - Adopted on 1-19-11
  • House Resolution 19 a resolution observing the week of January 23 through 29, 2011, as "Nurse Anesthetists Week" in Pennsylvania on 1-19-2011. - Adopted on 1-26-2011
  • H.B. 1448:  Senator John Pippy has declared his intention to re-introduce SB 1448 from last session. The Volunteer Health Services Act would provide immunity from civil damages for care provided by retired health care practitioners in certain settings that offer free or discounted care.