AAPPN joined with health care advocates throughout the state to urge legislators to send “Same Rate for Same Service” to the Senate floor.
SB 5704, currently in the Senate Committee on Health & Long Term Care, is supported by a majority of committee members. However, its passage out of committee is being held up by opposing legislators delaying the bill through amendments.
AAPPN contacted each member of the committee on January 21 to urge committee passage of the bill. We joined with NAMI Washington in this collaborative effort. Our voices were joined by other health care advocate organizations listed below.
The committee also heard from AAPPN members last week. More than 400 citizens signed in favoring of the bill, almost twice as many as opposed.
AAPPN will continue to advocate for this crucial component in the state´s efforts to improve primary care and behavioral health access in some of our most vulnerable communities. SB 5704 would reinstate equitable reimbursement rates for the services ARNPs have been authorized to provide for decades. It would require insurers to follow the lead of the state Medicaid program and L&I to reimburse ARNP services at 100% of the standard rate.
Our thanks to the organizations supporting this important legislation!
Association of Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses
Washington State Healthcare Authority
Washington State Pharmacy Association
ARNPs United of WA State
Washington State Nurses Association
National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners
Washington Association of Nurse Anesthetists
Washington State Labor Council
American Federation of Teachers WA
SEIU Healthcare 1199NW
SEIU 925
IAM 751
UFCW 21
United Transportation Union
Laborers Local 252
UBEW/Certified Electrical Workers of Washington
Statewide Poverty Action Network
NAMI
Partners for Our Children
Children’s Alliance
Children’s Home Society of WA
ZoomCare
Foundation for Healthy Generations
Justice Advocacy Africa
WA Association of Naturopathic Physicians