- Email: [email protected]
ENA Advocacy and Activism
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
ENA ADVOCACY
Kathleen Carlson, MSN, RN, CEN, FAEN
hen ENA first was formed in 1970, the focus was mainly on education and networking. Since then, ENA has evolved into an authority, advocate, activist, and a critical voice for the profession of emergency nursing. Last May, during our annual Day on the Hill, we came together in Washington, D.C., to urge federal lawmakers to support legislation important to emergency nursing. We had two priorities:
W
Mental health legislation (H.R. 2646 – Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act of 2015 and S. 2680 – the Mental Health Reform Act of 2016). Both mental health reform bills will improve the nation’s troubled mental health system by focusing programs and resources on psychiatric care for the patients and families most in need of services; and Standing Orders for Emergency Medical Services (H.R. 4365 – Protecting Patient Access to Emergency Medications Act of 2016 and S. 2932 – Protecting Patient Access to Emergency Medications Act of 2016). These bills codify the existing practice of allowing standing orders to govern the administration of controlled substance medications by non-physician personnel in the field by amending the Controlled Substances Act, which is administered by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The DEA issued an opinion that it does not have the authority, under current law, to allow standing orders to govern the application of these drugs. This opinion triggered fears that J Emerg Nurs 2016;42:371-2. 0099-1767 Copyright © 2016 Emergency Nurses Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jen.2016.07.008
September 2016
VOLUME 42 • ISSUE 5
AND
ACTIVISM
emergency medical personnel, including emergency nurses, will no longer be able to deliver and administer these critical medications to patients. If this decision stands, it will eliminate an important practice that for nearly 40 years has allowed patients in the field to receive critical, lifesaving medications when and where they need them. One example of how advocacy can help move an issue forward can be seen in the case of mental health reform legislation in the House. Comprehensive mental health reform has been discussed and debated for years. However, we have recently seen momentum to move these critical policy reforms forward. Rep. Tim Murphy’s (R-PA) bill, the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act of 2015 (H.R. 2646) has gained critical support in the House of Representatives and will take a number of steps to improve access to, and quality of mental health care in the U.S. Rep. Murphy is seen as an authority on the issue, he is a member of the House Energy & Commerce Committee’s important Health subcommittee, and holds a Doctorate in Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh. Prior to ENA’s Day on the Hill, H.R. 2646 had collected 187 bipartisan cosponsors since it was introduced in June 2015. As of July 5, this legislation has 207 cosponsors, an increase of 20 cosponsors (10 %) since Day on the Hill. Successful advocacy cannot always be counted in cosponsorship numbers alone, which is why ENA was especially pleased to see the Energy & Commerce Committee approve the legislation by a vote of 53-0, reflecting full bipartisan support of the Committee’s members. We were even more excited on July 6, when H.R. 2646 was voted on and passed by the House of Representatives by a staggering bipartisan vote of 422-2. Although this represents a huge step forward, this bill must still be reconciled with whatever legislation the Senate passes before we will see any of these reforms signed into law. Meanwhile, the Senate’s own mental health reform bill, the Mental Health Reform Act of 2016 (S. 2680) has bolstered support by adding 10 additional bipartisan cosponsors, an increase of 200 percent, since our Day on the Hill visits. How is ENA able to substantiate these claims of effectiveness? We have a dedicated Government Relations team in Washington, D.C. working to advocate for issues that affect emergency nurses. Their role is to expand legislative advocacy through increased presence in the U.S. Congress, promoting patient and community safety and
WWW.JENONLINE.ORG
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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE/Carlson
excellence in emergency nursing practice. Another large part of their role is to provide opportunities for more direct member engagement in, and knowledge of, legislative advocacy. What can we do at home? EN411 is one method to contact elected officials regarding legislation impacting the profession of emergency nursing. Once you sign up, you will receive timely Action Alerts on pending issues, providing you with a sample letter or talking points that can be sent directly to your legislator by email. For example, on May 19, just one week after Day on the Hill, ENA Government Relations issued an Action Alert to more than 3,200 members of the EN411 Legislative Network, asking them to send letters to their Representatives and Senators asking them to cosponsor the mental health and EMS
372
JOURNAL OF EMERGENCY NURSING
legislation. This Action Alert has resulted in more than 90 advocates sending more than 300 letters to Representatives and Senators asking them to support the Protecting Patient Access to Emergency Medications Act of 2016 (H.R. 4365/ S. 2932). Don’t know where to start? Contact your ENA state Government Affairs chair – they will be happy to welcome you! There is also an ENA Advocacy tool kit you can find at http://cqrcengage.com/ena/tool. As an emergency nurse, you have the power to impact legislation that affects the healthcare system, your patients, and emergency nursing. It is important that our lawmakers hear directly from the nurses treating these patients. Our stories are compelling. Collectively, we are powerful. Join us in advocating for patient and community safety and excellence in emergency nursing practice.
VOLUME 42 • ISSUE 5
September 2016
ENA ADVOCACY
Kathleen Carlson, MSN, RN, CEN, FAEN
hen ENA first was formed in 1970, the focus was mainly on education and networking. Since then, ENA has evolved into an authority, advocate, activist, and a critical voice for the profession of emergency nursing. Last May, during our annual Day on the Hill, we came together in Washington, D.C., to urge federal lawmakers to support legislation important to emergency nursing. We had two priorities:
W
Mental health legislation (H.R. 2646 – Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act of 2015 and S. 2680 – the Mental Health Reform Act of 2016). Both mental health reform bills will improve the nation’s troubled mental health system by focusing programs and resources on psychiatric care for the patients and families most in need of services; and Standing Orders for Emergency Medical Services (H.R. 4365 – Protecting Patient Access to Emergency Medications Act of 2016 and S. 2932 – Protecting Patient Access to Emergency Medications Act of 2016). These bills codify the existing practice of allowing standing orders to govern the administration of controlled substance medications by non-physician personnel in the field by amending the Controlled Substances Act, which is administered by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The DEA issued an opinion that it does not have the authority, under current law, to allow standing orders to govern the application of these drugs. This opinion triggered fears that J Emerg Nurs 2016;42:371-2. 0099-1767 Copyright © 2016 Emergency Nurses Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jen.2016.07.008
September 2016
VOLUME 42 • ISSUE 5
AND
ACTIVISM
emergency medical personnel, including emergency nurses, will no longer be able to deliver and administer these critical medications to patients. If this decision stands, it will eliminate an important practice that for nearly 40 years has allowed patients in the field to receive critical, lifesaving medications when and where they need them. One example of how advocacy can help move an issue forward can be seen in the case of mental health reform legislation in the House. Comprehensive mental health reform has been discussed and debated for years. However, we have recently seen momentum to move these critical policy reforms forward. Rep. Tim Murphy’s (R-PA) bill, the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act of 2015 (H.R. 2646) has gained critical support in the House of Representatives and will take a number of steps to improve access to, and quality of mental health care in the U.S. Rep. Murphy is seen as an authority on the issue, he is a member of the House Energy & Commerce Committee’s important Health subcommittee, and holds a Doctorate in Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh. Prior to ENA’s Day on the Hill, H.R. 2646 had collected 187 bipartisan cosponsors since it was introduced in June 2015. As of July 5, this legislation has 207 cosponsors, an increase of 20 cosponsors (10 %) since Day on the Hill. Successful advocacy cannot always be counted in cosponsorship numbers alone, which is why ENA was especially pleased to see the Energy & Commerce Committee approve the legislation by a vote of 53-0, reflecting full bipartisan support of the Committee’s members. We were even more excited on July 6, when H.R. 2646 was voted on and passed by the House of Representatives by a staggering bipartisan vote of 422-2. Although this represents a huge step forward, this bill must still be reconciled with whatever legislation the Senate passes before we will see any of these reforms signed into law. Meanwhile, the Senate’s own mental health reform bill, the Mental Health Reform Act of 2016 (S. 2680) has bolstered support by adding 10 additional bipartisan cosponsors, an increase of 200 percent, since our Day on the Hill visits. How is ENA able to substantiate these claims of effectiveness? We have a dedicated Government Relations team in Washington, D.C. working to advocate for issues that affect emergency nurses. Their role is to expand legislative advocacy through increased presence in the U.S. Congress, promoting patient and community safety and
WWW.JENONLINE.ORG
371
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE/Carlson
excellence in emergency nursing practice. Another large part of their role is to provide opportunities for more direct member engagement in, and knowledge of, legislative advocacy. What can we do at home? EN411 is one method to contact elected officials regarding legislation impacting the profession of emergency nursing. Once you sign up, you will receive timely Action Alerts on pending issues, providing you with a sample letter or talking points that can be sent directly to your legislator by email. For example, on May 19, just one week after Day on the Hill, ENA Government Relations issued an Action Alert to more than 3,200 members of the EN411 Legislative Network, asking them to send letters to their Representatives and Senators asking them to cosponsor the mental health and EMS
372
JOURNAL OF EMERGENCY NURSING
legislation. This Action Alert has resulted in more than 90 advocates sending more than 300 letters to Representatives and Senators asking them to support the Protecting Patient Access to Emergency Medications Act of 2016 (H.R. 4365/ S. 2932). Don’t know where to start? Contact your ENA state Government Affairs chair – they will be happy to welcome you! There is also an ENA Advocacy tool kit you can find at http://cqrcengage.com/ena/tool. As an emergency nurse, you have the power to impact legislation that affects the healthcare system, your patients, and emergency nursing. It is important that our lawmakers hear directly from the nurses treating these patients. Our stories are compelling. Collectively, we are powerful. Join us in advocating for patient and community safety and excellence in emergency nursing practice.
VOLUME 42 • ISSUE 5
September 2016