Bree Collaborative/Volk Decision Update
Since the 2016 Washington State Supreme Court decision Volk v. DeMeerleer, patients may be reluctant to engage with health care providers about their violence risk. Health care providers may also be uncertain about how to meet their legal obligations.
The Bree Collaborative Risk of Violence to Others work group convened in 2019 to ultimately recommend clinical best practices for patients with risk of violence. We are proud to have Mary Ellen O’Keefe, ARNP, MN, MBA, representing AAPPN and the interests of Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses on this work group!
Legislative Agenda
The 2019-2020 legislative session is well underway! We have a “long” session this year, which means the last day of the regular session is April 28, 2019. With our lobbyists, Melissa Johnson and Jennifer Muhm, the Legislative Committee is tracking nearly 70 bills related to mental health that have been introduced. The volunteers on the Health Policy/Government Relations Committee took positions (support, monitor, or oppose) on more than 30 bills.
AAPPN is supporting or monitoring a wide range of bills that cover subjects such as the integration of behavioral health from the Department of Social and Health Services into the Department of Health, access to mental health hospitals in rural communities, substance abuse disorder treatment, the State’s response to the Trueblood settlement, the Involuntary Treatment Act, and the continuum of care for behavioral health patients, to name just a few.
Download (PDF) the complete list of the bills AAPPN is tracking.
Upcoming Legislative Deadlines
- April 3: Last day to read in committee reports (pass bills out of committee and read them into the record on the floor) from opposite house, except House fiscal committees and Senate Ways & Means and Transportation committees.
- April 9: Last day to read in opposite house committee reports (pass bills out of committee and read them into the record on the floor) from House fiscal committees and Senate Ways & Means and Transportation committees.
- April 17: Last day to consider (pass) opposite house bills (5 p.m.) (except initiatives and alternatives to initiatives, budgets and matters necessary to implement budgets, differences between the houses, and matters incident to the interim and closing of the session).
- April 28: Last day allowed for regular session under state constitution.
New AAPPN Rules Committee
Consider being a member of this new committee. You don’t need to be a legal expert! Your interest in your profession’s future and your desire to volunteer with your colleagues are the only requirements.
What will the Rules Committee do? Rulemaking can happen at any time during the year. When new rules are submitted, Rules Committee members will be alerted and provided the available background material. Committee members will discuss the proposed rules, usually via email, and – with the assistance of AAPPN’s lobbyists and staff – prepare written comments if needed.