Open Letter from the NJSNA Forum of Nurses in Advanced Practice President

Dear APNs, RNs and APN Advocates,

As you all know, the Consumer Access to Health Care Act has been re-introduced under Assembly bill A-1760 for this legislative session. This bill will eliminate barriers to APN practice by removal of joint protocol requirement with physicians. This bill will allow APNs to continue to provide high-quality, affordable care to New Jersey residents without the restriction of a joint protocol document which inhibits the access to health care by APNs. Your support is urgently needed to reach out to your legislators to support this bill. You can assist in the efforts of New Jersey State Nurses Association and Forum of Nurses in Advance Practice in New Jersey by following the simple steps below:

Please contact your legislators and ask them to support A-1760. If you do not know your legislators, please click here to find your legislators based on the district you live in.

Once you have contacted your legislators, we want to know who you contacted and what they said, please email your comments to FNAPNJ@gmail.com. More info regarding this bill is also available at the Forum of Nurses in Advance Practice-Call to Action.

Your voice is much needed to support this important bill. Please do not wait for others, do this yourself and do it today. Your valuable time is much appreciated.

Any questions, please reach out to me at FNAPNJ@gmail.com

Let’s get this done this time!!

Thank you for your support,

Amita Avadhani, DNP, DCC, ACNP-BC, NP-BC, CCRN, FAANP, FCCM

Forum of Nurses in Advance Practice-NJ, President

Sample Letter

Dear Legislator,

I am writing to bring your attention to A1760 the “Consumer Access to Health Care Act.”  This bill will eliminate barriers to Advanced Practice Nurses’ (APNs’) practice by removing the “joint protocol/collaborative agreement” requirement with physicians. It is important to emphasize that this bill will allow APNs to continue to provide high-quality, affordable care to New Jersey residents without the restriction of a joint protocol document which inhibits access to the APN delivered health care to New Jersey residents.

As a New Jersey APN, I am contacting you today to ask for your support for A1760 the “Consumer Access to Health Care Act” and to have this bill as a legislative priority in the current legislative session. A recent policy analysis revealed that 16% of New Jersey adults reported to have no usual place for healthcare and 21% do not have a personal primary care provider. These statistics are among the worst in all states in the Northeast. In addition, 13 out of 21 counties in New Jersey have a primary care provider shortage. APNs can help to fill this shortage. Therefore, removing barriers and improving access to APNs is essential to improving healthcare in New Jersey.

By removing this barrier, New Jersey APNS will be able to practice at the top of their education, license and certification. Continuing the “joint protocol” or “collaborating agreement” with physicians is a barrier to APN practice that prevents our New Jersey citizens from accessing the health care they need to attain optimal health.

Let us improve the access to care for all of our New Jersey Community members. Please feel free to contact me if you would like further information.

Sincerely,

Your Name

Your Contact Information