NURS Legislative Work

Over the years NURS has worked collaboratively with a number of other organizations including Massachusetts Nurses Association, the Massachusetts Psychiatric Society, Massachusetts Psychological Association, Association of Independent Social Workers, and the Department of Mental Health. These groups continue to meet to discuss issues related to mental health practice; there has not been a representative from nursing included in these discussions and we feel it is vital that advanced practice nursing be represented in these discussions.

Additionally the following issues are ones that the officers and board members have also raised as concerns for our profession:

• Possible partnering with another professional association (APNA, NP’s)
• Goal of increase in reimbursement from 3rd party payors
• Removal of supervision provision from legislation about prescriptive practice
• Hiring of a lobbyist who will track and inform us of legislative issues that affect our practice
• Networking and educational opportunities Lobbying 3rd party reimbursers for CPT code for phone sessions

We have been in touch with the lobbying firm of Craven and Ober (Gloria Craven and Stacey Ober were former lobbyists for MNA) and feel it would be to our benefit to engage their services on a regular basis. In order to do this and maintain an organization dues will be charged on a yearly basis (Jan-Jan) for a fee of $150/year. Since we have no paid staff all other activities will need to be performed by members.

As we enter the 21st century and times are tough in health care and more specifically in mental health care we feel the need to be proactive in protecting these hard won rights and care for the patients we serve. We would like to re-structure NURS and create an organization in which ALL members play an active role.