Update on AB 396 & SB 394
May 26, 2022
WNA Lobbyists Meet with Governor Evers Policy Staff
On Wednesday May 25, WNA contract lobbyists from the Welch Group and Gina Dennik-Champion, WNA Executive Director were invited by Governor Evers lead policy staff to meet and discuss the veto decision related to the APRN Modernization Act. WNA was provided the opportunity to share our members disappointment and impact of the Governor’s veto on the nursing workforce. The staff listened to what we had to say and provided some insight into the veto decision. Both sides agreed that two-way communication is important as ideas for moving forward with the APRN rules and legislation need to begin now and into the next biennium.
May 19, 2022
WNA appreciates all who advocated for this bill. We are disappointed of Governor Evers veto. Our goal is to get this bill passed in the session. We will be identifying legislative candidates who are interested in supporting our bill for this upcoming election season. This takes effort and financial contributions. Please consider contributing to WINPAC today so nursing practice can be supported, protected and advanced.
May 12, 2022
APRN speakers at the WNA press conference with Senator Patrick Testin told their stories about the impact of Governor Evers veto of the APRN Modernization Act.
Gina Dennik-Champion MSN, RN, MSHA, Executive Director of Wisconsin Nurses Association provided introductory remarks including the acknowledgment of the resignation of the Wisconsin State Board of Nursing Chair, Dr. Peter Kallio, CRNA. Dennik-Champion introduced the APRNs speakers:
- Rebecca Gilbertson, DNP, FNP, APNP, Medford, WI, owner of Taylored Family Care Clinic
- Lori Kisting, MSN, APNP, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC, Stevens Point, WI, owner of Linc Health Clinic
- Rene Buenzow, APNP-C, APRN-C, and DNP/PMHNP-student, Cottage Grove, WI
State Senator Patrick Testin, Senate District 24, Stevens Point, WI. Author of SB 394 APRN Modernization Act provided remarks about his disappointment of the veto and vowed that the bill will be back next session.
The press conference drew the attendance of the media and was recorded on WisEye the link is below (must create a free account to view)
News Conference: Veto of SB 394 – APRN legislation – WisconsinEye (wiseye.org)
Two local TV stations reported on the press conference. The links are below:
NBC 15 – https://www.nbc15.com/video/2022/05/11/nurses-voice-disappointment-veto-aprn-modernization-act/
April 18, 2022
Please click here to read a joint press release statement from the American College of Nurse-Midwives (WI Affiliate), Wisconsin Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists, Wisconsin Association of Nurse Anesthetists, and the Wisconsin Nurses Association
April 15, 2022
WNA wants you to know that the Governor will be vetoing the APRN Modernization Act, SB 394 today. This is very disappointing. We cannot thank you enough for all of your tireless advocacy and support.
Letter from Governor Evers in regards to veto.
March 28, 2022
Governor Evers remains undecided about signing SB 394 – The APRN Modernization Act. SB 394 creates a separate nursing license for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) . APRNs are RNs who receive a graduate nursing degree, (MSN or DNP) that prepares them to practice in a clinical role as a certified nurse midwife, certified registered nurse anesthetist, clinical nurse specialist or nurse practitioner. SB 394 describes the conditions, criteria, responsibility, and accountability required to practice as an APRN in Wisconsin. SB 394 will allow APRNs to have greater practice autonomy. This autonomy will support increased patient access to quality, safe and economical care for Wisconsin’s rural, tribal, and urban populations. APRNs are knowledgeable and skilled health care practitioners. They are key to addressing Wisconsin’s opioid epidemic and other substance abuse issues, treating, and managing patients’ chronic diseases, and delivering preventive care services.
March 21, 2022
ACTION ALERT: Sample Letters Asking the Governor to Support SB394 the APRN Modernization Act
WNA is requesting all members to please contact Governor Evers to ask that he sign SB 394, the APRN Modernization Act.
WNA thanks you in advance for your advocacy. SB 394 will support patient access to care and the role of the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse and the nursing profession.
February 17, 2022
APRN Bill: Victory in the Assembly! Only Two More Steps Left
The Assembly unanimously passed the Senate version of the APRN Modernization Act, SB 394. There were two new amendments added. The bill passed on a voice vote. The language in the bill needs to be identical and therefore needs to go back to the Senate to vote on the two amendments. WNA did not oppose the new amendments. If the Senate passes the amended bill next week, if goes to the Governor for his approval.
WNA thanks to all of you who have advocated for this legislation. It is truly appreciated.
February 10, 2022
Action Alert!! Call your Assembly Representative requesting support of SB 394 TODAY
Thank you all who contacted your Senator to support SB 394 the APRN Modernization Act. We need you to call your state Assembly Representative and request that he/she support SB 394.
Rationale:
SB 394 reflects the conditions and responsibilities to practice safely as a licensed APRN in Wisconsin.
SB 394 will provide patients with access to quality, economical, safe and patient-focused care.
Wisconsin’s citizens need the care delivered by licensed APRNs now to meet the demands of health care.
Senate passes SB 394 – APRN Modernization Act
The Senate passed SB 394 January 25, 2022. SB 394 has been sent to the Assembly for a vote.
Voting results: Ayes-19 Nays-14 Not Voting-0 Paired-0
Ayes:19 Ballweg, Bernier, Bradley, Cowles, Felzkowski, Jacque, Jagler, Kapenga, Kooyenga, LeMahieu, Marklein, Nass, Petrowski, Stafsholt, Stroebel, L. Taylor, Testin, Wanggaard, Wimberger
Nays:14 Agard, Bewley, Carpenter, Darling, Erpenbach, Feyen, Johnson, Larson, Pfaff, Ringhand, Roth, Roys, Smith, Wirch
January 24, 2022
Action Alert! Senate Voting on APRN Modernization Act SSA-1
January 14, 2022
Here is an update on the progress of the APRN Modernization Act SB 394 and AB 396, the crisis we face, and the need for your involvement.
First: The Senate Health Committee passed Senate Substitute Amendment 1 out of Committee on December 7, 2021 on a vote of 3 to 2. It is now waiting to be placed on the agenda for a full vote of the Senate.
Second: The Assembly Health Committee met Wednesday, January 12, 2022 to vote on Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 and one other amendment, called Amendment 2.
Summary of the Committee Meeting
- Amendment 2 – passed with a vote of 13 – 2.
- Assembly Substitute Amendment passed by two vote 9 – 6.
- Those voting:
Ayes: (9) Representative Sanfelippo; Representatives Summerfield, Wichgers, Murphy, Magnafici, Dittrich, Cabral-Guevara, Riemer S. Rodriguez.
Noes: (6) Representatives VanderMeer, Rozar, Moses, Subeck, Anderson and Vining.
- We did not expect the vote to be so close and this raises concerns.
What happened?
- Organized medicine (physician associations) have mounted a full court press. Which you can see by the vote results.
- The Health Committee Chairperson, Rep. Joe Sanfelippo, wants to bring all of the stakeholders and interested legislators together to come to agreement on language.
- If there is no agreement the bill it will not get scheduled for an Assembly floor vote.
- If the bill does not get to the Assembly for a vote before the end of this session, we will need to start all over in the 2023-2024 legislative session.
- There are only 3 floor sessions remaining.
Call to Action
We have 99 Assembly Representatives.
Your Assembly Representative needs to hear from you today and before January 19.
Tell him or her that you want them to vote yes on Assembly Substitute Amendment to AB 396 the APRN Modernization Act.
You can send your email to your Assembly Representative. Click here to find out who is your Assembly Representative and contact information. The “Find My Legislator” tool is on the right hand side of the page.
Or
You can also use WNA’s Nurses Voice Grass Roots Advocacy Messaging Platform.
Tell your legislator why this is important to you
- Increase access to care delivered by APRNS
- APRNs are a safe health care provider. They have a Masters/DNP Degree from an accredited school of nursing, you are nationally board certified, you are a prescriber.
- They consult, collaborate, and refer your patients to physicians and other health care providers when your patients need care beyond your expertise.
- Licensure as an APRN will provide greater protection for the public as your nursing care is expected to reflect advanced clinical and pharmacological education and training.
- They must have medical malpractice insurance coverage at all times at the same coverage amount as physicians.
- Mandatory physician collaboration is costly, ineffective, unnecessary and prevents access to care for your constituents and your communities. All healthcare providers collaborate as it is part of team-based care. You are concerned about only APRNs being singled out.
Other information about APRNs
- There are 7,800 APRNs practicing in Wisconsin. Continued barriers to practice will result in APRNs moving to other states to practice because there is greater autonomy.
- Wisconsin APRNs are part of the surgical team in our hospitals and surgery centers. APRNs are used to assess and manage the pain of post-surgical patients. APRNs order discharge medications, including pain relief for the patient. This gives the appearance that APRNs prescribe more pain medications than physicians.
- There are 26 states and US Territories that allow for full practice authority. Access has improved for at-risk communities and rural communities.
- APRN practice has been studied for over 50 years. Results indicate that APRNs are safe and quality providers. Performance measures show that care is comparable or at times better than physician counterparts.
Thank you so much.
January 7, 2022
Action Alert! Please contact Assembly Representatives to request Support of Amendment 1 of the APRN Modernization Bill – AB 396
The amended version of the APRN Modernization Act, AB 396 has been passed by the Senate Health Committee. The Assembly Amendment has the same language as the Senate version. This language meets our goals and objectives for APRN full practice authority. There are physician-driven amendments being developed. If these proposed amendments are passed, we will see delays in patient access to APRN care and services and 4 years of physician supervision of the new APRN graduate who want to become an independent provider. This is a huge step backwards.
WNA has two requests:
- Contact your Assembly Representative (email or call)
- Contact the members of the Assembly Health Committee (Call of email)
Contacting Tips
- Do not use your work email or phone number.
- Provide your name and address and type of nurse, RN or APRN.
- Sample phone and email script:
“ Hello Representative ___________, my name is __________ and I am contacting you to ask that you support Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 to Assembly Bill 396 without further amendments.
Assembly amendment 1 supports timely access to health care provided by APRNs that is safe, high-quality, appropriate, and economical. This is good for your constituents and the citizens of Wisconsin. Thank you in advance for consideration of my request.” I can be contacted at: (provide a non-work email address or your phone number.)
WNA thanks you for advocacy efforts
Click here to send an email or phone message to your Assembly Representatives.
The contact information for the Assembly Health Committee are as follows:
December 6, 2021
Please find below two memos that have gone out to the legislature
November 30, 2021
The Public Hearings in both the Senate and Assembly Health Committees resulted in the development of amendments to AB 396 & SB 394. The amendments are supported by WNA and other stakeholders. The next step in this legislative process is for each Chairperson of the Senate and Health Committees to hold a vote of the committee members to pass the amended bills out of the Committee. Once the bills are passed out of the Committees, they can be scheduled for a vote of the full Senate and the full Assembly.
WNA is asking you to call your legislators’ offices today and ask them to support AB 396 and SB 394, the APRN Modernization Act.
Reasons for support:
SB 394 and AB 396 create a separate nursing license for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN). With this licensure, APRNs will be required to demonstrate greater accountability and responsibility to the public due to their advanced education and clinical training.
APRNs are registered nurses who graduate with a masters or higher degree in nursing from an accredited APRN nursing education program. APRNs hold national board certification as either a Nurse Practitioner, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, Certified Nurse Midwife or Clinical Nurse Specialist.
The legislators will need to hear from you that these bills will support APRN practice that can increase access to care for their constituents and their communities.
This legislation is important to you, an APRN, as it will allow me to practice to the full scope of my license, which can result in increased efficiencies in care delivery, decreased cost-related expenses, support quality care and work as an equal member of the health care team. This is good for patients, employers, and nurses.
I thank you in advance for your advocacy.
Gina Dennik-Champion, MSN, RN, MSHA
WNA Executive Director and Lobbyist
Please read the information below on calling your legislator.
Tips for preparing for your legislator call:
- Know your Senator or Assembly Representative’s name and where they live. You will be making two calls. You can find their office phone number by going to:https://maps.legis.wisconsin.gov/
- You will be asking the staff member if your legislator is available, be prepared to talk to him or her if available.
- You will need to tell them your full name and probably your home address. (Verify that you are the legislators’ constituent)
- Let them know the purpose of your call. (see below)
- If possible, can you share a story or experience that you can share that will support your request.
Script and talking points that you can use for your call
Script
Hello, my name is _________________ and I am wondering if Senator (name) or Representative (name) is available? I am a Nurse Practitioner, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, Certified Nurse Midwife. The purpose of my calling today is to ask him/her to support a legislative bill that is very important to me. The bill numbers are AB 396 and SB 394, The APRN Modernization Act.
Reasons for support that you can use or elaborate on:
- SB 394 and AB 396 create a separate nursing license for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN). This licensure will increase patient protection due to advanced education and clinical training, and with that comes greater accountability and responsibility for care delivery.
- To practice as an APRN, the nurse must graduate from a masters or higher degree in nursing from an accredited APRN nursing education program. The APRN must hold national board certification as either a Nurse Practitioner, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, Certified Nurse Midwife or Clinical Nurse Specialist.
- These bills will allow your constituents and your communities to gain increased access to health care services delivered by Advanced Practice Registered Nurses.
- This legislation is important to me as it will allow me to practice to the full scope of my license, which can: increase efficiencies in care delivery, decrease cost-related expenses, support quality and safe care, and allow me to practice as an equal member of the health care team.
- This legislation is good for patients, employers and nurses.
Thank you for your time. I can be contacted at: (use your home email or personal phone number).
APRN Modernization Act Update – September 28, 2021
WNA wants to let you know the status of the APRN Modernization Act, 2021 Assembly Bill 396 & 2021 Senate Bill 394.
We are in the process of finalizing proposed amendments to the bill which should be available for review soon. Once released, WNA will provide a brief webinar about the amendments and next steps needed from you contacting your legislators.
- Oversee the amendment development process and final language;
- Meet with Health Committee members to inform them on the proposed amendments and request support;
- Request the Chairs of the Health Committees hold a vote on the amendments and bill so they can be forwarded to the Senate and Assembly for action; and
- Meet with legislature leadership to schedule a vote on the bill by the full Assembly and Senate.
DONATE HERE
APRN Modernization Act Update – August 6, 2021
Successful Public Hearings on APRN Modernization Act
The public hearings on 2021 Assembly Bill 396 and 2021 Senate Bill 394, The APRN Modernization Act, provided the members of the Assembly and Senate Health Committees very effective information about the importance of supporting this legislation. APRNs representing NPs, CNS’s, CRNAs and CNMs shared information about their role, location, and their competencies in delivering safe, accessible and quality care. The opposition, physician groups, were outnumbered almost 4:1. Their testimony focused on discrediting the education, experience and safety of APRN providers.
You can find more information about the hearings and next steps from WNA’s Lobbyist, Bob Welch and Gina Dennik-Champion, WNA Executive Director.
Click Here to Register for the On Demand Recording
WNA wants to thank all who submitted contacted your legislator and sent messages to the Committee members.
Action Needed! The members of the Senate and Assembly Health Committees need to hear from as many APRNs and RNs as possible. Your message should include a description how these bills will affect you and your patients; and ask for their support.
WNA has developed sample letters that can be used to send your letter to each of the Committee member, click here to learn more.
July 20, 2021, UPDATE – CALL TO ACTION
The Public Hearings on the APRN Modernization Action Legislative Bills Assembly Bill 396 and Senate Bill 394 have been scheduled.
The Senate Health Committee Public Hearing on 2021 Senate Bill 394 is scheduled for Wednesday July 28, 2021. Beginning at 10:00 am in room 411 Southeast, State Capitol.
The Assembly Health Committee Public Hearing on 2021 Assembly Bill 396 is scheduled for Thursday, July 29, 2021. The hearing is scheduled from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm. Room 412 East. Time: 9:00 AM – 5:00 pm There is a total of 11 bills scheduled for the hearing. AB 396 will be last.
The Bill Sponsors are Senator Patrick Testin (Stevens Point) and Representative Rachael Cabral-Guevera (Appleton)
Click here for an overview to prepare you for the public hearings.
To learn about the Public Hearing you can view the July 20, 2021 Webinar presented by Gina Dennik-Champion, WNA Executive Director and Lobbyist below