E. D.'s Notes, The

Alabama Nurse, Mar-May 2006 by Decker, Joseph F II

As we start the new year, a primary focus for ASNA will be the 2006 Alabama Legislature, which convened on 10 January. Our Association legislative agenda is quite full, with several issues being pursued. Our Workplace Violence bill (SB 187/ HB 390) sponsored by Senator Ted Little (D) of Auburn and Representative Barbara Boyd (D) of Anniston has already been passed favorably by the respective Judiciary Committees. We are guardedly optimistic that both houses will pass this much-needed protection for our nurses on the floor as it comes up for vote. In addition, we are strongly supporting a tougher revision to the Alabama Clean Air Act of 2003 (SB 351 and SB352) put forward by Senator Vivian Figures (D) from Mobile. Her efforts would greatly increase protection for all Alabamians from exposure to tobacco smoke in public places, including restaurants and bars. Our Legislative Committee, led by Ruth Harrell, is now deeply involved in a collaborative effort with a number of agencies to get increased funding for state nursing scholarships and expanded facilities to address the worsening nurse shortage. The primary focus will be to increase nursing faculty numbers and improve/expand physical plant capacity as needed statewide at both the Masters and Doctorate levels. In addition, we will continue to monitor and participate in several working groups and coalitions to maintain and improve funding for Alabama's Medicaid population. This continues to be a thorny problem as medical costs increase and fluctuations in the General Fund budget impact services for many children, poor and elderly recipients.

Several other legislative issues are now "on our radar" this year. The Environmental Task Force, led by Helen Wilson and Renée Coker, is looking at Mercury Pollution problems in the state, and a number of Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) issues. The ASNA Advanced Practice Council, led by Trinette Bell, Nancy Turnham and Jean Ivey are pursuing a number of APRN/NP issues including under-utilization of Nurse Practitioners in rural and urban health care settings. Finally, ASNA President Janet Donoghue recently had a very productive meeting with state Attorney General Troy King and his staff regarding domestic violence/strangulation. Janet presented her research information to the staff, and we hope to see a legislative proposal from the Attorney General's office in 2007. As you all know, 2006 is an election year in Alabama. This year we are asking all of our members to make a contribution to our ASNA Political Action Committee (PAC). In order to forward our legislative agenda and have the visibility and impact we need in the state political process we must increase funding for this area. Please help us in this effort!

Our annual Legislative Day here at the state Capitol on 31 January was a very big success. With over 100 nurses and nursing students in attendance and several outstanding speakers, it proved to be a very interesting day. State Medicaid Commissioner Carol Hermann provided the opening remarks regarding the status of Medicaid in Alabama, and also brought a department expert on the new Medicare Part D drug benefit program to discuss the many problems there. We are reminded that about 900,000 Alabama citizens are eligible for Medicaid, and it is a nearly $4 billion dollar business in our state. Dr. Jeanette VanderMeer from Tuscaloosa presented the PACE program (a model for delivery and funding of elder care), and Dr. Debbie Faulk from AUM discussed the political process. Our attorney and chief lobbyist, Don Eddins went over the ASNA legislative agenda and oversaw a tour of the legislature, which was in session. Many of our attendees actually got to meet their state representative and/or senator. One very important byproduct of our visit to the Statehouse was the excellent visibility our attendees provided to legislators of ASNA interest.

In December 2005 using funds accumulated from the ASNA Katrina Relief Fund, your Association made significant contributions to two organizations hit hard by the storm. Major contributors to our Katrina Fund included the Arthur L. Davis Publishing Company, the University of Michigan Professional Nurse Council, the New York State Nurses Association, the Massachusetts Nurses Association, the American Nurses Foundation of ANA and the North Dakota Nurses Association. On the 15th of December, Executive Director Joe Decker presented a check for $2,000.00 to the Montgomery Area Food Bank. Food Bank Executive Director Parke Hinman expressed his appreciation, and indicated that the gift would go a long way to restoring stocks of food and groceries urgently needed in the wake of Katrina. In a separate action, ASNA presented a check for $6,000.00 to Dr. Regina Benjamin, a family practice physician and founder/CEO of the Bayou Clinic in Bayou LaBatre, Alabama. Dr. Benjamin's clinic is specifically geared to provide free and low-cost medical services to area residents. The clinic suffered severe damage during the storm, with heavy flooding and most furniture and supplies destroyed. To add insult to injury, just days before the clinic was to reopen, fire destroyed the building. At present, Dr. Benjamin is operating out of a FEMA trailer behind the building site. Dr. Benjamin has a staff of six, including a Nurse Practitioner, two LPNs, a medical technician and an administrative assistant. We truly hope that the clinic will be back in operation soon. Janet Donoghue, ASNA President, Lt. Col. (Ret) Voncille Stallworth, ASNA representative from the Mobile area, and Joe Decker, ASNA Executive Director, made the presentation on the 19th of December at the Bayou Clinic on Tapia Street in Bayou LaBatre.